22-Year-Old Man from Ecuador Arrested for Kidnapping and Assaulting 12-Year-Old Chicago Girl
A shocking case has emerged in Chicago, where a 22-year-old man from Ecuador has been arrested on charges of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met through Instagram. The man, identified as Henry Lema, allegedly contacted the young girl online, picked her up without her parents’ knowledge, and took her to his residence where he committed the heinous acts.
The incident came to light on December 23 when the girl’s parents reported her missing to the Chicago police. They had tracked her cellphone to an address on West Crystal Street, which turned out to be Lema’s residence. Concerned for their daughter’s safety, the parents reached out to the authorities for help.
Upon arrival at Lema’s residence, officers found the girl with visible marks on her neck, indicating signs of abuse. Lema was immediately taken into custody, where he initially provided false information about his age. However, further investigation revealed that he was, in fact, 22 years old.
The girl was promptly taken to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, including the collection of evidence for a sexual assault kit. Additional evidence was also recovered from Lema’s home, potentially linking him to the crime.
During questioning, the girl revealed that she had met Lema on Instagram on December 2 and had informed him of her age. Despite this, Lema allegedly misrepresented his age as 15 and continued to communicate with her on WhatsApp. The girl stated that Lema had visited her home multiple times before luring her to his residence on the day of the incident.
According to the girl’s account, Lema assaulted her after promising that nothing would happen. She tried to resist and escape, but he allegedly held her down and continued the assault. Shockingly, the girl only discovered Lema’s true age when the police intervened.
Upon questioning, Lema admitted to knowing the girl’s age and claimed he thought she was 15. He confessed to having sexual relations with her twice and referred to her as his “girlfriend” of about six weeks. As a result, Lema faces charges of criminal sexual assault of a victim younger than 13 and kidnapping.
Following a hearing, Judge James Murphy III ordered Lema to be detained, citing the compelling evidence presented by the prosecutors. The case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of online interactions and the importance of safeguarding children from potential predators.
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