Metzger remains missing

Published 12:57 pm Friday, July 20, 2018

A 19-year-old Pamplin woman remains missing following the arrest of a man charged with arson of a vehicle registered to a family member of the woman, police reported Friday.

Virginia State Police reported in a release that it issued a Critically Missing Adult Alert on Thursday for Megan Lorraine Metzger.

Megan L. Metzger

Metzger is a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 5 inches and weighs 150 pounds. She has a 5-inch scar on her right arm.

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The incident remains under investigation and Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office is working with Virginia State Police, the release cited.

The alert cited that it is believed Metzger has been abducted and is in danger. It is possible she may need medical attention. She was last seen Tuesday. 

Juan Benavidez II, 19, of King George, was apprehended early Friday morning by Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the incident. He was taken into custody without incident and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail without bond. The Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office has charged him with a felony count of arson of a vehicle.

Juan Benavidez II

“The incident involving Benavidez began Thursday … at approximately 10:52 a.m., when King George County Sheriff’s Office alerted the Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office to be on the lookout for a suspect vehicle allegedly headed to Westmoreland County possibly on Route 3,” the release cited. “The suspect vehicle, a white 2004 Mazda 4-door sedan, was located a short time later on Leedstown Road near Twilford. The vehicle had been set fire and was completely destroyed.”

Police said the burned vehicle is registered to a family member of Metzger. The Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Virginia State Police, then began working to locate Metzger.

“Anyone with information about Megan Metzger or Benavidez or recalls seeing a white 2004 Mazda 4-door sedan in Spotsylvania, King George or Westmoreland counties is encouraged to call 911 or Westmoreland County Master Detective Jones at (804) 493-8066 or Virginia State Police in reference to the missing person case at (804) 553-3445,” police cited.