According to "Today," one morning in May 2021, an 11-year-old girl identified in news reports as Alyssa was waiting for her school bus in Escambia County, Florida when a man attempted to kidnap her. "The man got out of his vehicle holding a knife, came towards me and I tried to run, but he caught me," Alyssa said. The perpetrator tried to drag Alyssa away, but she struggled so much they both fell to the ground, prompting the man to run back to his car and drive off, the kidnapping thwarted.
Hours later, authorities captured and arrested the man, thanks in part to an identifying clue planted by Alyssa. While waiting for the bus, she'd been combining blue paint with homemade slime, and during the attack, she had the wherewithal to slap some on the attacker's arms. Alyssa got the idea from an episode of "Law & Order: SVU," when she'd seen a potential kidnapping victim similar "mark" their assailant. "I knew that might be better evidence if the cops do find him," Alyssa explained. "The suspect, when we caught him, had blue slime all over his arms," Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said at a press conference.
"Law & Order: SVU" star Mariska Hargitay wrote about Alyssa's story on her Instagram account. "I am so honored to be part of your incredible story," the actor said. "I think the SVU squad might have to add slime to their crimefighting gear!"
