Colo. kidnap suspect arrested in Ala.; missing teen found safe
LONGMONT, Colo. -- A northern Colorado teen who police say was kidnapped by an adult male relative who was sexually abusing her has been found with the man in Alabama, according to officials in Longmont, Colo.
Thomas Ludwig Fechtler, also known as Thomas Kitchen, 52, was arrested Thursday morning after Clarke County Sheriff's Office deputies pulled over his car in Coffeeville, Alabama, nearly 1400 miles away from the girl's Colorado home, according to detective commander Jeff Satur of the Longmont, Colo. Police Department.
The 16-year-old girl was found safe, Satur said.
Fechtler was taken into custody on a felony arrest warrant for sexual assault on a child - position of trust, 2nd degree kidnapping and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Satur said that the suspect left Colorado with the girl on Monday, and the girl was reported missing. Police then received a report that Fechtler had been engaged in a pattern of sexual abuse with the girl, and began searching for her Wednesday, Satur said. According to the Longmont Times-Call, the girl's mother had called to report the abuse, which she said was ongoing since October.
Satur said the girl left with Fechtler of her own accord. Because of the report of sexual abuse, police said they believed there was an immediate threat to her safety.
Satur said the suspect and the victim are related, but wouldn't say how.
Family told officials that Fechtler had family in Missouri, so police said the two might be heading there, launching a nationwide search with the help of the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The media helped publicize the case and circulated pictures of Fechtler and the 2007 Toyota Rav 4 he was driving, Satur said. The case didn't meet the criteria for an Amber Alert to be issued, he said.
Law enforcement received numerous tips with sightings of the suspect and the teen, Satur said. Tips came in that the car had been spotted in Mississippi before Fechtler's arrest in Alabama, Satur said.
Police are not naming the teen because she is a sexual assault victim.
