Timothy Virts extradited back to Maryland for Bobbie Jo Cortez murder, Caitlyn Virts safe

The man accused of kidnapping his 11-year-old daughter after killing the girl’s mother has been extradited back to Maryland from South Carolina to faces charges.

Caitlyn Virts

Timothy Virts, age 38, kidnapped his daughter Caitlyn Virts, age 11, after murdering Bobbie Jo Cortez.

“Timothy Virts has been returned to Maryland. He’s been officially charged with the March 6 homicide of Bobbie Jo Cortez in Dundalk,” Col. John Wachter said, Baltimore County Police.

Detectives believed Virts tied up and killed his ex, Cortez, before abducting their daughter, Caitlyn, triggering a national Amber Alert last week.

Virts and his daughter were found at the Colonial Inn in Florence, South Carolina.

Baltimore County Police Chief Jim Johnson said Saturday morning that the motel clerk, using social media, found out about the Amber Alert, checked their logs and alerted authorities. The chief cited the media and social media — “citizen keyboard crime fighters” — with the safe resolution of this search.

“Virts was arrested without incident and will be extradited to Maryland for prosecution,” Johnson said.

Detectives are traveling to South Carolina to continue the investigation.

“This was a very violent, brutal murder,” Johnson said.

“The probable cause for this warrant is based on interviews with the other people who were in the house at the time as well as physical evidence at the scene,” police spokeswoman Elise Armacost said.