10-year-old US girl abducted from home at midnight, found tied up in closet 13 hours later

A 10-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted from her home in Oregon in the middle of the night was found tied up inside a closet at a house about nine miles away, nearly 13 hours later, police said.Violet Hay was taken from her family’s apartment in Canby at around 1:40 am on Wednesday after a man allegedly assaulted her 12-year-old sister with a hammer, according to local media reports. Police received a call at around 1:47 am and launched a search for the missing child.A SWAT team later found Violet at a residence in Oregon City and arrested the suspect, identified as Vince Edgar Chavez. The US Marshals Service said the girl was found tied up inside a closet. She was taken to a medical facility for treatment of injuries and further evaluation.Canby Police Chief Jose Gonzalez announced the rescue around 13 hours after the girl was reported missing.“Folks, I have great news. We found her safe and alive,” Gonzalez said, drawing applause. “As a parent, I was anxious. I’m so glad that we found her alive and well.”The police chief did not disclose whether the suspect was known to the girl’s family. An initial 911 call described the alleged abductor as an “unknown male”.Chris Owens, chief deputy district attorney for Clackamas County, described the incident as “a family’s worst nightmare”.“A young child was taken by force. Her sister was viciously assaulted,” Owens said, referring to the 12-year-old girl, who was receiving treatment at a local hospital.The suspect has not yet been formally charged. Owens said the case would be referred to the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office to determine the charges, according to local media outlet KATU.Roommate says he had no ideaThe suspect’s roommate told KATU that he was taking a shower when police entered their Oregon City home on Wednesday afternoon. He said he had no idea that Chavez had allegedly hidden the girl inside the residence.The roommate described himself as devastated and disgusted by the incident, adding that Chavez had not displayed any concerning behaviour before the alleged kidnapping.A neighbour recorded police bringing the girl out of the house. She said she initially did not realise that the child was the same girl whose disappearance had prompted a search earlier that day.The neighbour recalled hearing a loud noise before her father told her to get down and stay away from windows and doors. She filmed the rescue from next door.After learning the identity of the child, she said she felt bad about recording the moment, adding that she felt sorry for the girl.Police investigating circumstancesPolice said the incident began when a man allegedly entered the family’s apartment at the Orchards apartment complex in Canby, assaulted the older girl and took the 10-year-old away.The older sister was taken to a hospital and was still receiving treatment on Wednesday afternoon.Investigators subsequently gathered information and reviewed surveillance footage from nearby cameras as they searched for the missing girl. Her parents cooperated with the investigation.The US Marshals Service said Chavez attempted to flee through the back of the Oregon City home as officers entered. Police arrested him without further incident.Images from the scene showed damaged windows and a garage door after officers entered the residence.Authorities have not publicly disclosed the motive behind the alleged kidnapping, how the suspect entered the family’s apartment or the full circumstances surrounding the assault.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.