New developments in Behl investigation

After days with little news in the search for missing VCU freshman Taylor Behl, the story began to unfold again Friday as a “person of interest” was taken into police custody and the university announced a $20,000 reward in addition to the $11,000 offered by Behl’s family for anyone with information that leads to Behl’s location and return.

Amateur photographer Benjamin Fawley, 38, whom police had earlier identified as a “person of interest” in the investigation, was arrested Friday around 3 p.m. by Richmond City Police with 16 counts of possession of child pornography.

Fawley, who has acknowledged having a physical relationship with Behl, was thrust into the local media spotlight because of photographs he posted on an Internet art Web site featuring a fully clothed Behl modeling. During their investigation, police seized evidence including seven computers from the photographer’s home.

Richmond Police have also said they do not have enough evidence to follow up on a police report that Fawley filed hours after Behl’s disappearance. In the Sept. 6 report, Fawley said that around 5 a.m. the morning after Behl was last seen, he was attacked in an alley near Franklin Street and Monument Avenue by unknown assailants. The attackers, he said, drove him to an unknown location with a bag on his head and dumped him out of the vehicle. Fawley told detectives he was drunk when the attack occurred.

Other acquaintances of Behl’s are said to have been questioned following the VCU freshman’s disappearance. Police impounded a car of one friend who is said to have skateboarded with Behl because evidence suggested Behl was in the car prior to her disappearance.

Compiled from wire reports.