Billboard shows alleged abductor of Hauppauge girl

The case of Sabrena Beck, missing since 2000, is back in the spotlight.

The Hauppauge girl was 2 years old when authorities say she was abducted by her mother, Yvette Torres, during a Florida visit. On Friday, the case became the latest addition to America's most famous intersection when the FBI unveiled a large wanted poster of Torres on a Times Square digital billboard.

"You have millions of Americans and millions of foreign visitors in Times Square," said Special Agent Richard Kolko. "Someone is going to say, 'Hey, I know her' and pick up the phone."

The image on the billboard changes during the day, cycling through several fugitives as well as other advertisements.

Torres, 46, was believed to have fled to Europe with Sabrena, Kolko said.

Sabrena's father, Davis H. Beck of Hauppauge, said Torres took Sabrena to Florida in June 2000 as part of their custodial agreement. Torres, Beck's former fiancee, never brought the toddler back, according to the FBI and Beck.

Torres also goes by Yvette Dawson, Yvette Torres-Dawson, and Yvette Thompson, according to the FBI. She is wanted on an international parental kidnapping charge.

Sabrena is one of eight children featured in "Looking Glass," a companion volume to the best-selling novel "The Lovely Bones" that author Alice Sebold created to highlight the plight of missing children. The "Looking Glass" was published in October and Sebold is donating all royalties to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Two years ago, the center released a digitally age-progressed photo of Sabrena, who now would be 11 years old. She may be using the names Sabrena Dawson, Sabrina Dawson, Sabrina Beck, or Rena Dawson, according to the FBI. She has pierced ears and a small birthmark on the back of neck, the FBI said.

Beck, 39, said given all the publicity, he is hopeful someone will contact law enforcement about his daughter.

"We're optimistic," he said, and later added, "We'll find her. It's not matter of if, it's a matter of when."

Calls placed to Torres' family in New Jersey were not answered Friday.

The FBI has used digital billboard displays of wanted fugitives since 2007 but the Times Square billboard is the first in the New York area. At least 30 cases have been solved with tips generated by the publicity from the billboards, according to the FBI.

Tipsters are asked to call the FBI at 212-384-5000.