Brave 13-year-old escapes kidnapper after she held up a simple two-word sign from car window
Being abducted is a frightening experience for a child and it's hard as well as risky for them to resist a potentially violent kidnapper. But sometimes even kids display a rare presence of mind that helps them escape such situations or save others. When a 13-year-old girl was being abducted, she used her intelligence, and thanks to that the kidnapper was caught and convicted. She wrote "help me" on a piece of paper and pressed it against the car window while she was stuck in the back seat of the vehicle. Onlookers in the parking lot noticed this and alerted the authorities. The girl was reportedly visibly frightened when police arrived at the scene on July 9, 2023, in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, according to the police department's press statement. It was reported that a man named Steven Robert Sablan kidnapped the girl at gunpoint in San Antonio on or around July 6, 2023, and also sexually abused her.
As Sablan carried out his horrific crimes, the girl’s parents lived a nightmare of their own, as they were desperate, terrified, and fearing the worst. Sadly, their darkest fears were close to the truth. All it took to flip the scenario was a crumpled piece of paper. When the car was parked outside a laundromat, the girl furiously wrote a plea that a vigilant stranger spotted before calling 911, as reported by NBC Washington. The culprit was inside, busy with his laundry when the officers got there. They also found a set of handcuffs and a black BB gun in the vehicle. The little girl was saved, thanks to the Samaritan and the courageous young girl.
Sablan received a 35-year prison sentence and has been ordered to pay $1,158 in restitution. A US attorney, Joseph T. McNally, said, “The 35-year sentence imposed ensures this defendant will not have the opportunity to victimize children." He added, "There is nothing as important as protecting our young people. I commend our federal and local law enforcement partners for their efforts to secure justice here.” In January 2024, Sablan, who had no legal connection to the girl and was a stranger to her, pled guilty to abduction.
He has been in federal custody since his arrest in July 2023. Police Chief Wally Hebeish also said, "This sentencing announcement represents a collaborative commitment to holding individuals accountable for victimizing and inflicting trauma upon our children." As reported by UNILAD. He added, "I am deeply grateful to our officers and federal law enforcement partners from the FBI and DOJ for their tireless efforts on this case.” According to the plea agreement, the culprit also got the title of a registered sex offender, as reported by CNN.
As the most vulnerable members of society, children are the target of several horrifying crimes, including sexual abuse, child labor, and kidnapping. For the children who survive these crimes, the trauma that stays is also devastating, as it causes behavioral disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse, deep despair, and post-traumatic stress.