In a previous press conference, a request was put out to the public for any surveillance video that was available on that day, in the hopes that it would show something that would help investigators ascertain the identity of the suspect. As a result, we received video that was crucial to the case, and after an extensive investigation by Webster Police Detectives, a suspect was identified, Joshua Besaw, 35 22 Porter Plain Rd Thompson, Ct. During the course of this investigation, the FBI was contacted for assistance and as a result of that were able to survey Besaw and retrieve used cigarettes that were able to be tested for DNA. That DNA matched DNA that was taken from the victim on May 31.
As a result, Besaw was arrested early this morning at his house in Connecticut without incident. He was taken to US District Court where he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna F. Martinez on the charges of Kidnapping and Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity. He was ordered to be detained.
The Webster Police would like to thank
- Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit of the Ct. State Police,
- Supervisory Special Agent Kimberly Lawrence and Special Agent John Van Kleeff of the Worcester Office of the FBI
- Supervisory Special Agent Jeffrey Waterman and Special Agent Lisa McNamara of the New Haven Office of the FBI
- DEA Technical Specialist Eric Evans
- Worcester Police Officer Brian Bisceglia of the Cyber Crimes Division
- All of the other technical specialists in the Worcester and New Haven Offices of the FBI
- Assistant United States Attorney Nancy Gifford of the District of Connecticut, United States Attorney’s office.
- Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeff Travers
- The Sexual Assault Unit of the Worcester County DA office
- The MSP Crime LAB
- All those that were responsible for surveillance and those not named that assisted in bringing this case to a successful resolution.
On behalf of the family, and the Webster Police Department, we cannot thank you enough.
I would like to thank Deputy Chief Tobby Wheeler, Lieutenant Gordon Wentworth, and Detectives Joseph Reed, Chris Trainor, Tim Whiting, and Officer Bruce Hamm for their efforts in this case. They have worked tirelessly over the last several weeks to bring this case to a successful resolution. They are a credit not onto the department, the town, but to the profession.
Chief Michael Shaw