A terrifying overnight kidnapping in Oregon has taken an even more disturbing turn after prosecutors revealed that a 10-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted while being held captive, and her 12-year-old sister was severely injured trying to survive a violent attack inside their home.
The horrifying ordeal began shortly before 1:40 a.m. Wednesday, October 28, when a man allegedly entered the family’s apartment in Canby, about 25 miles south of Portland, and attacked the older girl before abducting her younger sister.
What followed was a frantic, nearly 13-hour search involving local police, SWAT teams, the FBI and U.S. Marshals, ending with the discovery of the missing child restrained with duct tape inside a duffel bag in a bedroom closet.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Vince Edgar Chavez, 35, who is now facing a series of serious felony charges, including attempted murder, kidnapping and sexual abuse.
The case has shaken the normally quiet community, particularly as investigators continue examining what connected the accused kidnapper to the family and how he gained access to the children’s home.
According to the Canby Police Department, the attack unfolded at the Orchards Apartments on Southeast Township Road while the girls’ mother was home.
Prosecutors allege Chavez entered the residence and violently assaulted the 12-year-old, repeatedly striking her with a hammer until she lost consciousness.
He then allegedly abducted her 10-year-old sister and fled, leaving the older child seriously injured.
The mother called 911, prompting an immediate police response around 1:47 a.m.
Emergency crews rushed the injured 12-year-old to a hospital, where she remained under medical care as of Thursday. Authorities described her injuries as severe but have not provided further details about her recovery.
Meanwhile, investigators launched an urgent effort to find her missing sister.
Police identified a white van believed to be connected to the suspect and worked with other agencies to track its movements. Investigators also used cellphone information to narrow down the man’s possible location.
Their search eventually led them to a residence in Oregon City, approximately 15 miles from Canby.
By Wednesday afternoon, heavily armed tactical officers had surrounded the property as investigators prepared to enter.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Chavez attempted to escape through the rear of the house as officers moved inside. However, he was quickly apprehended without further incident.
Then came the discovery authorities had desperately hoped for.
Inside the residence, officers found the missing girl alive in a closet, restrained with duct tape and concealed inside a duffel bag.
The child was rescued at approximately 2:45 p.m., nearly 13 hours after she had been taken from her home.
She was immediately transported to a hospital for treatment and evaluation. Officials have not publicly disclosed the full extent of her injuries.
During a news conference announcing the rescue, Canby Police Chief Jose Gonzalez became emotional as he delivered the news that the girl had been found alive.
“I have great news. We found her safe and alive,” he told reporters.
Gonzalez, himself a parent, acknowledged how difficult the search had been for investigators and the family, praising the extraordinary cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
But while the rescue brought tremendous relief, prosecutors soon revealed that the allegations against Chavez were even more serious than initially reported.
During his first court appearance Thursday, October 29, prosecutors accused him of sexually assaulting the younger girl while holding her captive.
He was formally charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of first-degree sodomy, first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
The attempted murder and first-degree assault charges stem from the attack on the older sister, while the kidnapping and sexual offense charges relate to the younger child.
Clackamas County Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Owen described the allegations as exceptionally serious, emphasizing the vulnerability of the two young victims.
Prosecutors asked that Chavez be detained without bail because of the number and severity of the alleged crimes.
Circuit Judge Jeffrey S. Jones granted that request, ordering Chavez held at the Clackamas County Jail.
The case has also left neighbors and people who knew the suspect struggling to understand what happened.
One of Chavez’s roommates told local television station KATU that he had no idea a missing child was allegedly being held inside their shared home.
The roommate said he was showering when officers entered the property and was horrified to learn why police had arrived.
Authorities have not accused the roommate of participating in the alleged crimes.
Meanwhile, investigators acknowledged that there may have been some connection between Chavez and the family, although they have not publicly explained the nature of that relationship or identified a possible motive.
Prosecutors also said investigators found no obvious signs of forced entry at the family’s apartment, another detail authorities are examining as they reconstruct the events leading up to the kidnapping.
For residents of the apartment complex, the violence has been particularly frightening because it happened while children were inside what should have been the safety of their own home.
Neighbors expressed shock that such a disturbing crime could occur in their community, with some saying the incident has left them fearful for their own families.
The Canby School District also took additional precautions following the abduction, increasing police presence around the elementary school attended by the younger girl.
As the criminal investigation continues, officials are working to determine precisely how the suspect entered the apartment, what led to the attack and whether anyone else had knowledge of the alleged crimes.
Chavez is scheduled to appear in court again on November 5, when he will be arraigned on an indictment.
For the family, the younger girl’s rescue brought an enormous sense of relief, but both sisters now face a difficult recovery from an ordeal that unfolded in the middle of the night.
And while the case has raised deeply troubling questions, authorities say the swift coordination between local and federal investigators was essential to finding the missing child alive.
