GRIGGSVILLE, ILL. -- Tri-state parents are on edge tonight after reports of a Griggsville student's encounter with a suspicious man on her way to school.
Since then, Facebook pages have lit up with parents who've heard similar reports at other local school districts.
We've investigated those stories and learned from police they were false rumors.
But the incident in Griggsville is a very real reminder for parents like Kelli Deege. She says she's taking extra precautions these days to keep her kids safe.
"You'd think in a small area like this you wouldn't have to worry about your kids walking to school. You have to rethink everything."
She says the incident in Griggsville is a very real reminder of what dangers are out there for students if they are unprepared.
Here's what happened according to school officials. A small group of students were walking to school Wednesday morning here on Stanford Street when they spotted a suspicious man in a dark vehicle. That's when the Pike county Sheriff's department says a Junior High girl had a questionable and uncomfortable encounter with the man who was in his 50's. At no time did the man try to abduct or touch her, but it was strange enough the girl turned back to go home with her small group of peers and found someone she trusted.
Griggsville-Perry Superintendent Andrea Allen says the school took precautions, going into a semi-lockdown mode...and keeping recess and PE inside for the day. An "all call" message was also sent to parents letting them know of the situation. But Allen says the good news is that student knew what to do.
Allen said, "They were very perceptive in the situation. They noticed something wasn't quite right. It didn't seem right as they went to school and so they chose to do the right thing and turn around and look for someone they could trust."
And with the kidnapping of the Louisiana, Missouri girl Alisa Maier earlier this summer, it's yet another reminder repeated in classrooms here and in homes all over the Tri-states. That's a conversation police say all parents should have.
Just to reiterate, we checked all of the stories we heard about on Facebook, and NONE of them are true.
Adams County sheriff Brent Fischer says the only similar incident happened in Payson when an elderly couple stopped and asked a child on foot for directions.
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