LAPD Searching for Suspects Who Abducted, Dropped Off Girl
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iStockphoto/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — Authorities in Los Angeles are searching for two suspects who allegedly kidnapped a 10-year-old girl from her home and took her to various locations in the course of 10 hours before dropping her off near a hospital.
“We are confident that there are two suspects and one appears to be about 18 years old. We don’t have further information on that suspect,” LAPD spokesman Richard French told ABC News. “We don’t have any information on the second suspect.”
The girl was reported missing early Wednesday morning. Her mother last saw her when she went to bed around 1 a.m., police say. At around 3:40 a.m., the mother awoke to go to the bathroom and saw that the girl was missing when she stopped into her room to check on her.
Authorities believe the two men might have entered through the back of the house, according to ABC News Los Angeles station KABC-TV. A side gate the parents said they had secured was found open.
The LAPD is classifying the case as a “stranger abduction,” which means the parents are not suspects at this time. Police believe the girl was taken from her home in the middle of the night by the two strangers.
She was then taken to a storage facility and at least one other location in at least two cars, according to the LAPD.
“We do believe we’ve recovered one of the vehicles, a black truck,” French said. “We don’t have a description on the second vehicle.”
She was then dropped off at Kaiser Hospital, about six miles from her home. She walked from there to a nearby Starbucks where someone recognized her from the publicity at around 2:45 p.m., according to KABC.
The little girl had some bruises on her face and some minor lacerations, but appeared otherwise unharmed, police said.
The person who recognized her flagged down an LAPD officer and she was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Although the little girl’s name and photo were released when she went missing, police are asking that the media no longer use either.
“She’s only 10 years old, it’s very traumatic and we’re not looking for her anymore,” French said.
The LAPD is the lead investigative agency and the FBI is assisting. Police are expected to provide an update on the search at a news conference later Thursday.
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