A 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas and sexually assaulted was rescued in Southern California when passersby saw her hold up a “help me” sign in a parked car, police and federal authorities said.
LONG BEACH, Calif. —
Steven Robert Sablan, 61, of Cleburne, Texas, was arrested and on Thursday was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of kidnapping and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles. According to the account, the girl had left home without telling her parents because she was attempting to visit a school friend who had moved to Australia a year earlier but kept in touch through an internet chatroom.
Sablan sexually assaulted the girl several more times on the drive from San Antonio through New Mexico and Arizona and into California, the affidavit said. Meanwhile, the girl’s mother reported her missing to San Antonio authorities on July 7.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
‘Help me’ sign leads to rescue of kidnapped Texas girl in Southern CaliforniaPolice say a 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas was rescued in Southern California when passersby saw her hold up a “help me” sign in a parked car.
Read more »
Girl kidnapped in Texas rescued in Southern California after scribbling ‘Help Me' on paperA girl kidnapped in Texas on July 6 was rescued three days later in Long Beach, California after waving a “Help Me” sign while inside her kidnapper’s vehicle.
Read more »
Kidnapped Texas girl rescued in California after holding up 'help me' sign inside carQuick-thinking bystanders in southern California helped rescue an out-of-state kidnapping victim who had been holding up a sign that said 'help me' inside a car, authorities said.
Read more »
Kidnapped Texas teen rescued by Good Samaritans in California after waving 'help me' signA 13-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped in Texas and repeatedly sexually assaulted was rescued in California after a Good Samaritan came to her aid.
Read more »
Excessive heat warnings, advisories remain in effect for much of Southern CaliforniaHemet could see heat of 106 degrees on Thursday.
Read more »
Southern California man convicted in 2018 spa bombing that killed ex-girlfriendA Southern California man has been convicted of blowing up his ex-girlfriend’s spa business with a package bomb in 2018, killing her and seriously injuring two clients
Read more »