Kidnap teen was ‘held for decade’

A man charged with raping and kidnapping a 15-year-old girl and holding her for a decade was due in court in the US late last night.

Sat, 25 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Authorities say Southern Californian Isidro Garcia, aged 41, made the girl marry him several years later and fathered a daughter with her.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled in Orange County Superior Court to determine whether Garcia should stand trial on charges of sexual abuse and kidnapping. He has pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors contend Garcia drugged and abducted the teenage daughter of his girlfriend from Santa Ana, California in 2004 and whisked her away to a neighbouring county, telling her she would be deported if she contacted authorities.

Authorities have not released the victim’s name.

The case came to light last year when the girl, now a grown woman, went to a police station to report a domestic violence incident and was connected to a missing person’s report filed by her mother in 2004.

Garcia’s lawyer has said the allegations were lies and were fabricated because the couple were separating.

Neighbours were shocked to learn of the case and said the pair, who lived in a Los Angeles suburb, seemed like a loving couple.

Authorities contend that Garcia initially locked up the girl, but she later got a job and had her own car.