SON DOWN: School Child Snatcher Turned In By Parents

(starts)

A man accused of snatching a 10-year-old schoolgirl was turned in by his own mum and dad after they recognised him from CCTV images issued by the police.

Astonished officers seized suspect Diego James Gettler, 28, from the municipality of Thornton in the US state of Colorado, after his parents walked into a police station to identify him.

Police had released CCTV photographs and footage to local media showing Gettler trying to snatch the terrified girl from outside her school and then fleeing in his battered grey car.

Diego Gettler , 28,fighting with the 10-year-old girl outside the school on Sept. 23, 2022, in Thornton, Colorado, USA. He was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (@ThorntonPolice/Newsflash)

His horrified parents told police on 26th September that they recognised both their son and the dented Saturn Aura he was driving from the images.

After they handed police his cellphone number, officers were able to use GPS to track him down and arrest him.

Gettler – now charged with second-degree kidnapping – is accused of grabbing the girl outside the school after her mother dropped her off at 7:30am on 23rd September.

Suspect Diego Gettler, 28, poses in undated photo. He attempted to kidnap a 10-year-old girl outside her school, and was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping in Thornton, Colorado, USA, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (Adams County Jail/Newsflash)

Thornton Police Department reported that the incident occurred in front of the STEM Launch K-8 school just before the first bell rang.

As she waited outside the school, Gettler is said to have tried to talk with her as she sat on the school steps.

His arrest affidavit stated: “The male made her feel uncomfortable, so she stood up as he was walking back down the stairs.

Suspect Diego Gettler, 28, poses in undated photo. He attempted to kidnap a 10-year-old girl outside her school, and was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping in Thornton, Colorado, USA, Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (Thornton Police/Newsflash)

“The male grabbed [her] at this point, in a manner she described as him wrapping his hands and arms around her waist from behind.”

Gettler then covered her mouth with his hands to stop her from screaming.

The document went on: “She began grabbing at the male and was able to pull down a mask he was wearing, at which point the male appeared spooked and ran away on foot.”

Pictures shows suspect Diego Gettler, 28, during the attempt to kidnap the 10-year-old girl outside the school on Sept. 23, 2022, in Thornton, Colorado, USA. He was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (@ThorntonPolice/Newsflash)

Images from CCTV footage found by the police showed Gettler parking a grey car near the school and attempting to abduct the child after he walked up to her.

But Gettler fled, climbing into the passenger side of the car before driving away.

Police images show Gettler wearing black trousers, black shoes and a black hoodie with three blue and orange Adidas symbols on the back.

Pictures shows the Saturn Aura used by the suspect to leave the crime scene on Sept. 23, 2022, in Thornton, Colorado, USA. Diego Gettler, 28, was arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping on Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. (@ThorntonPolice/Newsflash)

Pictures from the scene also show Gettler’s car with a huge dent on the driver’s door. His parents told police that the damage makes the door impossible to use.

Gettler is being held at Adams County jail for a hearing scheduled for 5th October.

(T4/ends)

Tags: , ,