A teenage girl in the United States was rescued by police after using Snapchat to notify her friends that she had been kidnapped and didn't know where she was.
In a report, San Jose Police Department's Sexual Assault Investigations Unit said that on 14 January 2020, officers responded to a suspicious circumstance at the E-Z 8 Motel in San Jose, Northern California.
The victim used her Snapchat account to notify friends she had been abducted and did not know her location. The victim's friends determined her location through the social media app and called 911.
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Arriving officers made contact with one of the suspects - 55-year-old Albert Thomas Vasquez - as he exited a motel room and they went on to discover the victim inside.
Vasquez has since been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping to commit rape, digital penetration with a child under 14 years with force, false imprisonment, lewd act with a child 14 or 15 years with force, and rape by intoxication or controlled substance.
On 15 January, two other suspects - 34-year-old Antonio Salvador and 31-year-old Hediberto Avarenga - were booked into Santa Clara County Jail for kidnapping and conspiracy.
In a statement, the police department said: "Follow-up investigation by detectives revealed suspect Vasquez met the victim in the City of Capitola on January 14th. Vasquez gave the victim drugs and she became incapacitated.
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"Vasquez called suspects Salvador and Avarenga for assistance. The three suspects placed the victim in their vehicle against her will. Vasquez sexually assaulted the victim in the vehicle.
"Afterwards, the three suspects drove the victim to the E-Z 8 Motel in San Jose. The suspects carried the victim from their vehicle to a second floor motel room where Vasquez again sexually assaulted her."
Anyone with information about this case or similar incidents involving these suspects is asked to contact Detective Anthony Barajas of the San Jose Police Department's Sexual Assault Investigations Unit at 408-277-4102.
Persons wishing to remain anonymous may either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867), or click the 'Submit a Tip' link below. Persons providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect may be eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers.
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According to the East Bay Times, giving an update on the girl's condition, Sgt. Enrique Garcia said she was safe and back with her family.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: US News