Girl Escapes From Kidnappers

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Minnesota has been touched by an incredible story of survival starring a young girl of only 15 years old who managed to flee from her kidnappers by swimming in an icy lake.

The teenager, who has already been able to reunite with her relatives, has been missing since August 8, when she was last seen after leaving her home.

Alexandria police in Grant County said in a statement that a stranger found the girl running through a field in Grant County and called 911.

The girl's alleged kidnappers were arrested and remain in custody without bail.

Thomas Barker, 32, Steven Powers, 20, and Joshua Holby, 31, are now charged with kidnapping, false imprisonment, and assault.

According to police, the girl knew at least one of her alleged captors: Barker, who approached her the night of her disappearance outside her home, pretending that she had "a problem". By trickery, the man convinced her to get into his car and took her away.

Later, authorities revealed, the subject took her home and "restrained her with polyester ties, repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her with weapons."

Barker's roommate, Joshua Holby, is suspected of "taking part in the assaults" for at least two weeks.

The girl revealed that during her torture they transported her to other locations and to a cornfield to abuse her and that they kept her locked in a closet.

It was until this Tuesday that the girl was left alone for "the first time in 29 days," according to police, and the girl fled. Apparently, she tried to ask for help in several houses she found in her path, but was unsuccessful, which is why she swam into Lake Thompson.

"The investigation is in progress and we still need to know more details about what happened," police said, according to Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. For their part, the family has asked for privacy after the terrible experience.