SEDGWICK COUNTY — A registered Kansas sex offender has been sentenced to over 47 years in prison for raping a 15-year-old girl who was walking home from a Wichita grocery store, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.
In August, a jury found Anthony Craig Seymour, 61, Wichita, guilty of rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated robbery.
In November 0f 2019, police responded to a 911 call of an abduction in the 300 Block of North Volutsia in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Brett Allred.
Upon arrival, police searched the area and located a 2005 Lexus driven by a suspect later identified as Anthony Seymour leaving the area. They also observed a 15-year-old girl exit the vehicle while it was moving slowly and run toward the officers. Seymour fled in the car. Police initially were not able to locate it.
Investigators learned that while the girl was walking home, Seymour approached, held a knife to her, forced her into the Lexus and sexually assaulted her, according to Allred.
Through continued investigation, police located the victim’s phone in a parking lot and were able to obtain video in the area and a tag number on the car.
Police located the vehicle and Seymour in the 1900 Block of North Lorraine. He was arrested without incident and booked on requested charges of kidnapping, rape, aggravated criminal sodomy, aggravated battery and a Kansas Department of Corrections arrest and detain order, according to Allred.
“The victim is very brave,” said Allred. “She saw police and took action to get out of the car, run to the officers and explain what had happened.” She had been on her way to Dillons and had seen the suspect and thought he was acting suspiciously. On the way home, the suspect approached her a second time and forced her in the vehicle, according to Allred.
EMS transported the girl to a local hospital for treatment.
Seymour had been on parole since May of 2018 after a 2004 conviction for rape, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. Seymour is scheduled for sentencing on September 19, according to the district attorney's office.