10-Year-Old Girl Credited With Recovery Of Abducted Classmate

Child's Mother Arrested On Suspicion Of Child Abduction

September 8, 2004

LOS ANGELES — A 10-year-old Covina, Calif., girl is being credited with the recovery of one of her classmates, who was abducted by his mother.

Barranca Elementary School student McKenna Bishop happened to catch "America's Most Wanted" as the show flashed pictures of missing children, and realized that one of the youngsters was a former classmate, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.

 "I just saw his face and I knew it was him," McKenna told the newspaper.

 The girl told her mother, Carol Cornell, that the boy, Rayon Gray, was in her fourth-grade class for about two weeks earlier in the school year.

Cornell called "America's Most Wanted," and about a month later police tracked down Rayon in the Riverside area, the Tribune reported.

 Rayon's mother was arrested on suspicion of child abduction, Covina officials told the newspaper.

 Tuesday, the Covina City Council honored McKenna and her mother for helping reunite Rayon with his father in Maryland, who had custody.

 Covina police Chief Kim Raney commended McKenna for recognizing her classmate, then taking the next step and reporting the information.

 "That's what made the difference in the case," he said.

 People who call in tips could get a reward, McKenna told the Tribune, but she doesn't want one.

 "I don't need anything more," McKenna said. "I already have a great family and lots of friends. I'm just glad I did the right thing."

Copyright 2004 by NBC4.tv.