At about 5:30 P.M. on Thursday January 22, 2015, two men attempted to kidnap a teenage girl along Highway 41 near the High Sierra RV & Mobile Park in Oakhurst. The girl had stopped to take pictures of the sunset, when two men rushed her from a nearby area where they had been hiding. One suspect grabbed the girl by the arm and lifted her off the ground while stating that they intended to kidnap her. The girl was able to kick the suspect several times and aggressively resisted his attempt to overpower her. She was ultimately able to break free from his grasp, and then fled to her home. Her father immediately called the Sheriff's Office upon hearing what had occurred.The teenage victim described the two suspects as white males dressed in all black clothing. The suspect who grabbed her is at least six feet tall with a heavy muscular build, he has brown eyes and at the time of the attack had a Mohawk style haircut. The other male isalso about six feet tall with a smaller build.
Madera County Sheriff's Detectives have interviewed a number of witnesses as well as several persons of interest. Additional follow up investigation is currently underway.
"I commend the victim in this case for her resolve and courage in preventing herself from being taken", stated Sheriff Jay Varney. "We are continuing to follow up on this case and the earlier case from the Madera Ranchos area, and whether they are related."
