Five illegal immigrants were apprehended in Missouri in the early hours of Monday for their alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a 14-year-old girl from Indiana. The incident unfolded when the girl's father witnessed her entering a black Dodge Durango with an unknown registration in Cass County, Indiana, and promptly reported it to the Logansport Police Department.
Authorities were alerted around 2 a.m. on June 17, leading the Missouri State Highway Patrol to take swift action. The Cass County Sheriff's Office informed troopers that the missing girl's cell phone had been traced to a vehicle with Texas registration, heading westbound on U.S. 36 near Hannibal, Missouri.
A vigilant Missouri state trooper identified a matching SUV shortly thereafter and conducted a stop. Upon inspection, the trooper discovered the girl in the back of the vehicle, confirming her identity as the missing teen. Fortunately, investigations revealed no signs of sexual assault.
All five men in the vehicle were promptly arrested and taken into custody at the Macon County Jail. The suspects, identified as Marlon Aguilar, Arturo Eustaquio, Noe Guzman Hernandez, Daniel Ruiz Lopez, and Carlos Funez, hail from Honduras and Mexico. Missouri State Highway Patrol has confirmed that these individuals are residing in the country unlawfully.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer for the five men, who are currently facing charges of felony kidnapping. They are being held without bail as the legal proceedings unfold.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities surrounding illegal immigration and the importance of law enforcement agencies working diligently to ensure the safety and security of all individuals within our borders.
