Police, mother beg former Baltimore County police officer to release daughters safely

"Do the right thing, Robert. Bring them back."

That was the plea York Area Regional Police Lt. Ken Schollenberger made to Robert Vicosa in a news conference Wednesday morning.

Police say Vicosa, who worked for the Baltimore County Police Department for nearly 20 years, violently attacked his estranged wife over the weekend and took the couple's young daughters. Giana Vicosa is 7 years old and Aaminah is 6 years old.

York Area Regional Police have filed charges against Vicosa, who is considered dangerous.

The search continued for them on Wednesday afternoon.

Live updates: Cop who abducted daughters has kidnapped another person in Md., police say

Timeline:Police say missing sisters' kidnapping began with violent assault of their mom

"Sir, you were at one time a police officer," Schollenberger said. "And in your heart you know that what you are doing is not right. You are a father. You are a father to these two young ladies. We're asking you, pleading with you, take them anywhere that you can.

"Drop them off at a Sheetz, at a Rutter's, at any convenience store. Take them anywhere there is a responsible person inside where they can go and call 911. We are looking for THEM."

Mother's plea

Police Chief Tim Damon read a statement from the girls' mother, whose name has not been released by police. She just wants her daughters to be returned.

"I would like the public to know that Giana and Aaminah are very loving, kind and super smart girls," the statement starts.

"Giana wants to be a scientist and Aaminah wants to be a veterinarian. I am so grateful for all of the friends, family, law enforcement and even strangers for their support and prayers. I am anxiously awaiting their return. I miss them, and love them, and need them home."

Sisters Giana, left, and Aaminah Vicosa sit on pumpkins in a submitted portrait.

The search began Monday afternoon when police, working with a search warrant, discovered that Vicosa, the girls and a vehicle were missing from the family home in Windsor Township. Police obtained the search warrant after Vicosa's estranged wife reported he had assaulted her over a 24-hour period.

"We found evidence that the assault did occur, that drug use did occur," Schollenberger said. "The house was in disarray, a window in the back was shattered. No one was left in the home. The kids were gone, and Mr. Vicosa was gone."

That was the start of an incident that has included multiple guns, multiple vehicles and kidnapping.

Vicosa, 41, of Windsor Township, has been charged with kidnap to facilitate a felony, simple assault, and robbery-threat immediate serious injury. Those charges stem from an incident that happened on Huson Road, also in the township, Tuesday morning.

A woman contacted police via Facebook Messenger, saying she was being held by a man with a gun, who had also taken her phone.

Lt. Ken Schollenberger, of York Area Regional police, talks about the confusion with different cars that were involved in the kidnapping investigation, while speaking during a news conference in York Township Wednesday. Police are searching for Robert Vicosa, who they say is armed and dangerous, and his two daughters.

"She came out of her house to take her daily walk and noticed a car in what she calls the canal next to her house," Schollenberger said. "She heard a voice to her right and as she turned she saw a man come out of her camper in a towel and put a gun in her face."

Officers said the man took the woman hostage and forced her into the house, according to an affidavit of probable cause. He threatened her with a handgun and would not let her leave during the altercation.

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Vicosa forced the woman to give him the keys to her 2014 Volkswagen Jetta, her cell phone, clothing and house phone. He held the woman captive for several hours while he made phone calls, police said.

Vicosa had his two children with him. He told the victim that he was a former police officer, and his wife was trying to take the girls from him, police said. 

He then fled in the victim's car, taking his daughters with him.

This happened between 9 and 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, the affidavit states.

Through an investigation, police identified the man as Vicosa. 

Police found a crashed 2015 black Acura TL, registered to a relative of Vicosa's longtime friend, Tia Bynum, on the property. Bynum was suspended sometime after Tuesday afternoon from the Baltimore County Police Department, according to Julia Hardgrove and Joy Stewart, both of the department's public affairs section.

Meanwhile, officers found the stolen Jetta in the area of Elm Avenue and Lancaster Street in Red Lion. The woman's cell phone, a medicine bottle with Vicosa's name on it and other items were inside.

Police discovered Vicosa had made phone calls to Bynum, the affidavit states. She told police Monday night that Vicosa told her he needed help and to pick him up.

Robert Vicosa was found dead in a murder-suicide Thursday, November 18, 2021, after kidnapping his daughters.

However, police described her as evasive and said she did not have the phone number that he used to contact her. When police returned to Bynum's house on Tuesday, she was gone and so was her 2013 black Lexus GS350.

Vicosa remains at large. 

People have asked why an Amber Alert has not been issued for the missing girls. Schollenberger explained that unless they know what vehicle the girls are in, an alert can't be issued.

He said they were seconds away from issuing an Amber Alert Tuesday night because they knew the three were traveling in the Jetta. But then the call came in that it had been found in Red Lion Borough.

Have a tip in the case?

Police have set up a tip line for the public to share information with authorities. The information will be taken and given to an investigator.

The number is 1-800-762-8187.