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Timeline of events shows JSO response, media notification in girl's abduction, killing

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This timeline shows the nature of events that took place in a matter of hours from the time Cherish Perrywinkle was abducted and killed and her body was found.

7:30 p.m. Friday: Rayne Perrywinkle, her daughter Cherish and two other children meet Donald Smith at the Dollar General at 1610 Edgewood Ave. West.

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9 p.m.: The group arrives at the Walmart at 12100 Lem Turner Road to shop for clothes. After about 90 minutes, Smith says he wants to get something to eat at the in-store McDonald's and offers to take Cherish with him.

10:41 p.m.: Smith's van is seen on surveillance video leaving the Walmart.

11:18 p.m.: JSO arrives at the Walmart in response to Perrywinkle's 911 call. A be-on-the-lookout is issued for Smith and his van.

12:29 a.m. Saturday: First JSO media EARS notification alert is sent to local outlets. There is no mention of a child abduction.

1:45 a.m.: Second JSO EARS alert is sent with no timetable yet for a media briefing and no mention of a child abduction.

4:40 a.m.: Third JSO EARS alert is sent notifying the media of a 5 a.m. briefing. There is no mention of a child abduction.

4:42 a.m.: Email is sent to media outlets from JSO public information Officer Shannon Hartley regarding the 5 a.m. briefing and giving first mention of a child abduction.

5 a.m.: JSO tells the media about Cherish's abduction.

5:28 a.m.: Florida Department of Law Enforcement issues an Amber Alert.

9 a.m.: A JSO officer spots Smith's van on Interstate 95 and Interstate 10. He's stopped near the Forest Street exit a short time later. A few minutes before the arrest, JSO had gotten a call of a suspicious van at a church at 10400 Rutgers Road.

10:23 a.m.: Searching a nearby wooded area with K9s, JSO finds a body believed to be that of Cherish Perrywinkle.


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