From Shackles To Freedom: 6-Year-Old Girl Escapes Rapist
HANOVER, Mass. (CBS/AP) A bike ride turned into terror, when a 6-year-old Massachusetts girl riding her bicycle was kidnapped by a neighbor who tried to rape her, according to Mass. authorities.
Yet despite being shackled from her legs, she managed to escape from his apartment and lead police back to him, a state prosecutor said.
The girl was found Saturday afternoon as police searched the apartment complex in Hanover, about 20 miles southeast of Boston, where she and the suspect live, Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz said.
The girl's mother reported her missing at about 1:30 p.m., about a half-hour after she had left her home to ride her bike, authorities said. Officers found the girl outside during a door-to-door search, and she led them to the apartment where she was taken, Cruz said.
Police then entered the apartment and arrested Justin Shine, 26, after a struggle, Cruz said. He was charged with kidnapping, attempted rape, assault and resisting arrest. It's unclear whether he has a lawyer. He is to be arraigned Monday in Hingham District Court.
Cruz said Shine was brought to a hospital to be treated for injuries he suffered in the struggle with police and what appeared to be self-inflicted wounds.
It wasn't clear if he was still in the hospital Sunday. Police referred questions to Cruz's office. A message was left with a spokeswoman for Cruz.
The girl also was taken to a hospital, but authorities would not comment on her condition.
"It's fair to say that if the police didn't do the job that they did, that this situation may have ended worse," Cruz told reporters late Saturday.