PNC Bank's reward offer of $10,000 leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects has helped add to the list of leads for detectives to pursue. Anyone with any information about this case or who witnessed any suspicious activity during the events of Wednesday, Sept. 24 is asked to call detectives at (240) 434-2754 or Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333.

PNC Bank is offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the persons who, on September 24, 2008, abducted a PNC Bank Manager and robbed the PNC Bank located at 22658 Three Notch Road in California, Maryland.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (240)434-2754 or Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation report that detectives from BCI, along with detectives from the Calvert County Investigative Team worked through the night interviewing witnesses, gathering information and collecting evidence.  Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 240-434-2754 or Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333.

At this writing, no suspects have been identified.

The suspects are believed to be three black males in their 20’s; two suspects are wearing camouflage ski masks, camouflage shirts and one suspect wore green pants.  The description of the third suspect is unknown at this time.

The Washington Post reported this morning on the event, giving out a woman's name. BCI Commander, Ricky Burris will not confirm the identity of the victim at this time. Sheriff's representatives state that the name was not released or confirmed to the Post.

More detail will be posted as they become available.

Editor’s note:  The following is a press release issued by the St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 2:50 p.m. on Sept. 24. The press represents the most factual and current information regarding the PNC robbery and kidnapping case TheBAYNET.com has covered throughout the day.

On September 24, shortly after 7 a.m. two black males, dressed in camouflage, approached the victim, a PNC bank manager, and her two children (male 1 year old and a female 5 years old) as she exited her residence, which is located in Lusby, Calvert County. 

The suspects ordered the victim and her children into her vehicle, a 2008 Chevy Tahoe and drove to the PNC Bank located at 22658 Three Notch Road in California.

Suspects ordered the victim to enter the bank, remove money from the bank and return to the vehicle.  After retrieving the money from the bank ,the victim was ordered back into her vehicle.  The victim was driven to Green Holly Elementary School on Millstone Landing Road in Lexington Park, where the victims were released unharmed.

Suspects fled the school in the victim's Tahoe.  The suspects abandoned the Tahoe at the CVS Drug Store located at Rue Purchase Road (state Route 235/Buck Hewitt Road) in Lexington Park , where at least one suspect was seen fleeing on foot.

An additional suspect vehicle described as a 2003 – 04 Black Nissan Sentra with tinted windows, driven by a black male, approximately 20 years old, was seen at the McDonalds Restaurant on Three Notch Road in California.

The suspects are believed to be three black males in their 20s; two suspects are wearing camouflage ski masks and camouflage shirts, and one suspect wore green pants.  The description of the third suspect is unknown at this time.

The suspects are considered to be armed and dangerous at this time as at least one long gun was displayed during the abduction and robbery.

St. Mary’s County Schools were secured as a precaution and several intersections/areas of the county have been shut down while the search for the suspects continues. (Earlier in the day, TheBAYNET.com had incorrectly reported St. Mary's County schools were in lockdown. Infact, outside activities were curtailed at county schools for the safety of the children.)

St. Mary’s County Bureau of Criminal Investigation  along with detectives from the Calvert County Investigative Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are continuing the investigation.  Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (301) 475-4200, ext. 1996 or Crime Solvers at (301) 475-3333.

Update 2:15 PM: Cameron Clarifies Robbery, Kidnapping Details at Press Conference

Sheriff Timothy Cameron held a press conference just after noon to clarify the events that transpired during the kidnapping and bank robbery. The press conference was held at sheriff's headquarters in Leonardtown.

 "At approximately 7 a.m. this morning a woman and her two children, ages 5 and 1 and-a-half were abducted from her Lusby home at gun point by two unknown assailants,” Cameron said. “The woman and her daughter and son were placed in her older Chevy Tahoe and driven to within a half mile of the bank. “ Then, the men forced the woman to drive into the Esperanza PNC Bank's Lexington Park parking lot.

" The suspects allowed the woman to enter the bank with her 5-year-old daughter, but held captive her 1and-a-half year-old son to ensure the woman would comply.” The woman (abductee) met an employee inside the bank, who is normally there to open the branch office.

"Once in the bank, the abducted woman let her coworker know that she was being forced to rob the bank and that the suspects were outside holding her son hostage. The woman (abductee)  entered the vault and removed a large sum of money and returned to the suspects, leaving her daughter inside the bank.

“Once the woman and the suspects had left the scene, the employee inside  the bank called 911 to report the incident.

"All deputies were called in and an extensive search was initiated. The suspects drove the woman and her son to the CVS on Buck Hewitt Road and released the hostages unharmed. They then proceeded to switch cars and left the scene.

"The main search was concentrated on the area surrounding the CVS and toward the PNC bank; an area of about 2 square miles."

"We questioned the woman and her co-worker extensively,” said
Lt. Ricky Burris, commander the Bureau if Criminal Investigation. “She did not know her assailants, but they knew her daily routine."

The search for the suspects has widened to include all of Southern Maryland. There are reports that the suspect vehicle had Virginia tags. The suspects may have tried to escape across the Harry Nice Bridge into Virginia.

Update: 1 p.m.: Calvert County Schools

Based on frequent communication with law enforcement officials, there is no reason to continue on partial lockdown for Calvert County Schools. Therefore, the partial lockdown will end at 1:15 p.m.  As always, school staff will remain vigilant and will continue to closely monitor events in the community. All after school activities will proceed as scheduled.

Update: Sheriff Cameron reports that the roads in the area have been reopened, but that officers will be present at every major intersection in an effort to find the 2003 or 2004 black Nissan Sentra with tinted windows. Officers are going to be placed in observation posts and will continue to collect evidence at the multiple crime scenes. Cameron also stated that deputies will be dispatched to every St. Mary's County School in the southern end of St. Mary's County.

St. Mary's County Public Schools just released the following statement: "As you know, the safety and well being of our students and staff are our top priorities for St. Mary’s County Public Schools.  Earlier this morning, a bank robbery took place in St. Mary’s County at the intersection of Route 235 and Millstone Landing Road in Lexington Park, MD.  All schools were notified to take precautionary measures. This included no outside activities, assuring that all exterior doors were secured, and increasing vigilance on checking the identifications of everyone entering the building.  At the time of this communication, the suspects have not been detained, but the authorities are still investigating the situation.  In working with the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, we are assuring that all precautionary measures are taken to protect the safety of our students during dismissal, especially in the vicinity of ongoing law enforcement operations."

In a statement from PNC bank, spokesperson, Fred Solomon said that one of their branch managers was abducted from her home in St. Leonard along with her two children and were taken to the Esperanza Branch in Lexington Park where the suspects proceeded in robbing the branch. They left the scene and released their hostages and changed vehicles. There was no statement by PNC Bank as to how much money was taken in the robbery.

The FBI would not comment on the ongoing story.

Sgt. Moore is handling the investigation into the kidnapping for Calvert County. Calvert County Schools have pulled all outdoor activities inside the schools south of Prince Frederick for the duration of the investigation.

It has been reported that deputies are being sent to each St. Mary's School. Efforts to discover what is transpiring in the schools have gone unanswered at this time. More updates as they become available.

The police have released a description of the vehicle they are seeking: The suspects are described as driving a Black 2003 or 2004 Nissan Sentra.

Early this morning a woman and her two children were kidnaped from a home in Calvert County by two back males in camouflage shirts, masks and green pants. The suspects drove the woman and her children to St. Mary's County where they proceeded to rob the PNC bank on Three Notch road. After robbing the PNC bank on Three Notch Road, the suspects fled to the CVS at he corner of Buck Hewitt Road and Three Notch where it is believed they switched vehicles and released the woman and her children. Police have found the Tahoe at CVS near Buck Hewitt Rd.

A search area for the suspects was earlier concentrated to an area from Chancellor's Run Road to San Souci Plaza and Shoppers World.

Police are actively searching for two suspects.

At this moment, Police have recovered all the people that were kidnapped safely. There was a bank bag found behind CiCi's Pizza in the San Souci shopping center.More information as it becomes available

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The Solomons Bridge was shut down heading northbound, leaving St. Mary's County heading into Calvert County this morning.

In St. Mary's County there were roadblocks at several intersections. Sheriff's officers attempted to alleviate traffic congestion by letting traffic by while searching for specific vehicles.

Earlier, all police were called out and roads are being closed in an effort to find and capture a kidnappers that reportedly kidnapped the manager of a PNC bank along with her family. 

Look out for a blue older Chevy Chevy Tahoe - tag number 949M839. Anyone seeing this vehicle is cautioned not to approach and call 911 immediately.