Andre Rand

Andre Rand (born Frank Rushan; March 11, 1944) is an American convicted kidnapper of two children and suspected serial killer, currently serving 25 years to life in prison. He is eligible for parole in 2037. He is the subject of the 2009 documentary Cropsey.

Rand was born Frank Rushan. The origins of the name "Andre Rand" are unknown. According to his sister in the 2009 documentary Cropsey, neither she nor Rand were sexually or physically abused as children.

In the mid 1960s, Rand worked as a custodian at Willowbrook State School. The hospital was located on the current College of Staten Island, CUNY Campus and surrounded by a forest called the Greenbelt. In 1972, documentary filmmaker Geraldo Rivera brought the conditions of Willowbrook to the public eye in an exposé entitled "Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace." The film made a number of allegations against the institution. In 1987, Willowbrook was closed by the state. Tunnel systems exist beneath the hospital.

Rand picked up a group of 11 children from the YMCA located in Staten Island in a school bus, purchased a meal for them without the consent from any of their parents, and took them to the Newark Liberty International Airport in the state of New Jersey. None of the children were harmed in this encounter, but Rand was apprehended and served 10 months in jail for unlawful imprisonment.

In 1972, 5-year-old Alice Pereira vanished after her brother had left her alone for a moment. They were playing in the lobby of a building on the island. Reports also suggest Alice may have been sighted in one of the parks. Rand was the prime suspect in this case due to his previous criminal record. Alice was never seen again.

In 1981, 7-year-old Holly Ann Hughes did not return home after going to the store to get a bar of soap with her friend. Andre Rand pulled up to Holly and her friend and pulled Holly into his Volkswagen and drove off with Holly. Her parents filed a missing persons report and a search was issued. When questioned, several eyewitnesses reported seeing Hughes with Rand. She was last seen with Rand and has not been seen again. In 2004, Rand was convicted of kidnapping Holly Ann Hughes.

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