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Sam Penrod ReportingAn Orem mother helped to rescue her 14-year old daughter, who police say was kidnapped by her 18-year old ex-boyfriend. The victim is on her way back to Utah tonight and the suspect is in jail.
It was in an Orem neighborhood yesterday morning that police say the 14-year old victim was abducted against her will, not long after her parents left for work.
Sgt. Gordon Smith, Orem Police Dept. "She was asleep in her home. The suspect, Jose Juan Martinez came in and forcibly put her in his car."
Police say the victim resisted the suspect's efforts right from the start.
Sgt. Gordon Smith: "Because she kept pushing the gear shift into neutral, he couldn't drive away. He got frustrated and tied her hands and put her in the backseat of the car."
The two drove to Laramie, Wyoming and stopped at a motel. When the suspect took a shower, the girl called her mother.
Sgt. Gordon Smith: "She was crying, she was hysterical, 'Can you please come get me? I'm in Wyoming somewhere, not sure where.' At that time she hears the water turn off and tells mom, 'I've got to get off.'"
The mother immediately called back the number on her caller ID.
Sgt. Gordon Smith: "The mom tells the receptionist, 'My daughter is in your hotel against her will, call the police department there and put me through to the room, I want to talk to my daughter.'"
When the call came through, the suspect realized he was in trouble and fled. He was captured about 50 miles outside of Laramie.
Sgt. Gordon Smith: "His statement to them was that it was consensual. But we question why she has no personal belongings if she wanted to go willingly, and why, because we did find the shirt she was bound with in the car."
The victim said the man wanted to go to Tennessee.
Because she was taken across state lines, the suspect could face federal kidnapping charges.
