A brave little girl who was allegedly held against her will and tied to a bed for a week chewed through her restraints and escaped before helping lead authorities to the purported abuser.
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The 12-year-old’s heroic actions also guided police to a gruesome discovery: two decomposing bodies inside the rural mobile home where she was purportedly held, CNN reported.
“She’s a hero,” Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said during a Tuesday press conference. “She’s safe, and we want to keep her that way.”
The alleged revelations came to light in Dadeville, Alabama, with police responding after a driver saw the girl walking alone Monday along a road and immediately alerted authorities.
The little girl’s story ended up leading to the arrest of Jose Paulino Pascual-Reyes, 37, who is accused of first-degree kidnapping, abuse of a corpse, and capital murder; he is being held without bond.
The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department said authorities found two decomposing and dismembered bodies while searching Pascual-Reyes’ residence. The remains have been sent to forensics, and more details are expected in the coming days.
The New York Times reported the deceased individuals were the girl’s mother and brother, adding further trauma to an already horrific scenario. Abbett said Pascual-Reyes was the mother’s boyfriend.
Police believe the girl was held captive starting July 24, the same day her mother was allegedly smothered and her brother was bludgeoned, The Times reported.
The little girl was reportedly given alcohol to subdue her and was tied to a bed for around a week.
She received medical treatment and has now been placed with child welfare services.
“It’s horrendous to have a crime scene of this nature,” Abbett said of the ordeal.
Pray for this child and others impacted by this horrific event.
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