Mexican Illegal Immigrant Arrested for Alleged Attempted Kidnapping of 17-Year-Old Girl
A 31-year-old Mexican illegal immigrant, Yordy Centeno Melchor, has been arrested and charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping after allegedly attempting to kidnap a 17-year-old girl in a store parking lot on New Year’s Eve. Melchor, who has been deported from the United States five times, is being held on a $100,000 bond.
According to Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin, Melchor coaxed the girl into coming over to his vehicle, where he allegedly planned to give her $200. However, another man nearby saw the girl in distress and confronted Melchor, causing him to flee the scene.
The sheriff’s office obtained a search warrant for Melchor’s phone and found a note detailing his plans to kidnap the girl. The note was written in the “notes” section of his phone and described how he planned to give her the money and coax her into getting into his car.
Melchor was arrested after a vehicle matching the one at the crime scene was stopped in a nearby county. The driver, Melchor, matched the suspect’s description, and officials were able to positively identify him.
The sheriff’s office is still working to determine what led Melchor to be deported five separate times. Melchor has ties to San Antonio, Texas, and Shelby County, Alabama, and was known to drive between those two areas visiting family.
The suspect may face additional charges if authorities can identify any other victims. The sheriff praised his officers for their quick response and said that Elmore County is not typically a hotbed of crimes of this nature.