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Footage from a surveillance camera led parents to identify their son, Diego James Gettler, as the suspect in an attempted kidnapping.
Diego James Gettler, 28, was arrested after attempting to kidnap a girl outside the STEM Launch K-8 school in Thornton, Colorado.
The girl was sitting on the school steps when a man approached her.
“The male made her feel uncomfortable, so she stood up as he was walking back down the stairs,” the affidavit said.
He grabbed her and tried to abduct her. The young girl screamed and pulled at his face mask, which revealed his face.
According to police, the kidnapper got “spooked” and ran away.
*UPDATE* Thornton PD continues to investigate the Att. Child Abduction at STEM Launch. Additional pics of the suspect & the vehicle he left in, an ‘06-‘09 Saturn Aura, gray, with damage to drivers side fender & door that likely prevent the door from opening. 1 of 2 pic.twitter.com/fxuPXCAIr8
— Thornton Police Dept (@ThorntonPolice) September 24, 2022
The police released footage from a surveillance camera, and the parents came forward. They said, “based on photographs from the surveillance that was released, as well as his vehicle matching the unique characteristics of the suspect vehicle in this case,” they matched their son.
Diego James Gettler was arrested and booked at the Adams County Jail.
More on this story via New York Post:
On Sept. 26, Gettler’s parents went to the Thornton police station and told detectives they believed the suspect was their son “based on photographs from the surveillance that was released, as well as his vehicle matching the unique characteristics of the suspect vehicle in this case,” the affidavit states.
“[His parents] stated Diego owns and operates a gray Saturn Aura which has damage on the driver side” caused by an earlier car accident,” the affidavit says. “[His parents] further confirmed Diego has to enter the vehicle from the passenger side.”
Detectives determined that Gettler’s cellphone was also in the area at the time of the attempted abduction.
He was arrested on Sept. 26 outside of a Home Depot in Parker and was booked at the Adams County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 5, People reported.