A Texas father used parental-control location tracking to find his 15-year-old daughter after she failed to return from a Christmas dog walk. He discovered her and the dog in a maroon pickup with a partly nude man, helped her escape, and called police. Authorities arrested 23-year-old Giovanni Rosales Espinoza, who faces aggravated kidnapping and indecency-with-a-child charges and is being held without bond.
Texas Father Uses Phone Parental Controls To Track, Rescue Daughter Abducted On Christmas
An area related to an alleged abduction of a teenager is seen in Porter, Texas, on December 26. - KHOU
On Christmas Day in Porter, Texas, a 15-year-old girl failed to return from a routine dog walk, turning a holiday meant for family and relaxation into a family crisis, authorities said.
When the teen did not come back within her usual time, her parents grew concerned. The father used parental-control location features on his daughter’s cellphone to trace her to a secluded, partially wooded area in neighboring Harris County — about 2 miles from their home and less than 30 miles from Houston.
He followed the phone’s signal into the woods and found his daughter and her dog inside a maroon pickup truck with a partly nude stranger. The father helped his daughter exit the vehicle and immediately contacted law enforcement.
Arrest and Charges
Eyewitnesses at the scene assisted deputies in locating the truck and identifying the driver as 23-year-old Giovanni Rosales Espinoza of Porter. Montgomery County detectives said the suspect had threatened the victim with a knife and abducted her from the street.
Giovanni Rosales Espinoza is seen in a booking photo. - Montgomery County Sheriff's Office
Espinoza was arrested without incident and, according to inmate arrest records, is charged with aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child. He is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail. It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney.
Community Response
Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle praised deputies and detectives for their work in apprehending the suspect and emphasized the department’s commitment to protecting families.
“Christmas is a day meant for joy, but this man chose to shatter that joy by targeting a child,” Doolittle said.
The family has not been publicly identified. Local news outlet KHOU reported that the family said they did not know Espinoza.
Broader Context
The rescue highlights the growing use of smartphone location-sharing and dedicated safety apps as children receive phones at younger ages and families seek extra layers of protection and peace of mind.
Authorities continue their investigation into the incident.
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