"26 Days of Hell": Father discovers kidnapped daughter on a boat!
New York/USA - It was a heroic moment: a father rescued his kidnapped daughter after she had been held captive on a boat for almost four weeks.
14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi disappeared from her home in New York(USA) on December 9 after getting into an unknown car. She was missing for 26 days.
As The Sun reported, her distraught father, Frank Gervasi, immediately began searching for his daughter.
Around 24 hours after her disappearance, surveillance footage emerged showing Emmarae desperately running from door to door, apparently hoping to find help.
It is believed that she first got into a friend's car and was abducted by a man a short time later.
Frank revealed that he was working closely with the local police and "following up his own leads".
Last Friday afternoon, an anonymous tip brought the breakthrough: Emmarae was discovered on a boat off the coast of the USA. Her father did not hesitate and arrived at the scene before the police.
"The woman who gave me the tip was afraid to get on the boat," reported Frank.
Emmarae Gervasi was missing for 26 days
The 14-year-old was quickly taken to hospital, where she was medically examined. The teenager has since been recovering from the traumatic experience.
"It was 26 days of hell," says Frank. "It was a gift from God. I can't describe the feeling I had when I finally held her in my arms."
A short time later, the police arrested 65-year-old Francis Buckheit. He was charged with rape, kidnapping and child abuse, but pleaded not guilty.
Emmarae's father expressed the suspicion that his daughter was involved in a sex trafficking case.
"Emma was held against her will. She was not allowed to leave the boat unless she was accompanied by someone and was forced to do things a 14-year-old girl should not do," Frank explained.
He also mentioned that Emmarae had run away from home once before this incident as she was struggling with some difficulties in her life.
The police have since confiscated the boat as evidence and the investigation into the case is ongoing.