By The newspaper
Aug 24, 2023, 01:47 AM EDT
Franz Vila has been charged with kidnapping and sexual assault in connection with the five-year-old girl who was reported missing from a supermarket in Queens, the New York police announced.
Kimberly Pijuan (30), the girl’s mother, was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor yesterday, a day after the incident that began Tuesday at “Foodtown Supermarket” on 37th Avenue, reported Pix11.
Vila, a 75-year-old suspect, was also charged with sexually motivated abuse, criminal sexual act against a person under the age of 11, unlawful imprisonment and acting in a manner harmful to a minor.
According to NYPD, the girl was with her mother around 9 a.m. Tuesday and allegedly asked her to go to the park. Pijuan initially said no, but allowed an acquaintance, later identified by police as Vila, to take her daughter.
Apparently Pijuan had only known Vila for about a month. Surveillance footage released by the NYPD shows the old man holding the girl’s hand in the supermarket. Pijuan was subsequently unable to reach Vila and called 911 around 1 p.m.
Instead of supervising the girl safely in the park, Vila took her to his apartment where he sexually abused her and then abandoned her, according to Daily News.
Around 4 pm a Good Samaritan saw the girl at the 74th St./Roosevelt Ave Metro station, just a few blocks from the supermarket, and called officers, police said.
All charges are mere accusations and those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) warned since 2020 of an increase in cases of child pornography due to the longer time spent by adults and children online during the pandemic. If you are a victim or suspect that someone is being mistreated, especially if they are a minor or elderly person:
I looked for help
- Call 988 or 1.888.NYCWELL (1.888.692.9355).
- Text “WELL” to 65173.
- Review information at https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/es/ and www.988lineadevida.org