Shocking: Illegal Immigrant with 5 Deportations Caught in Brazen Attempt to Kidnap Teen

The Mexican national reportedly intended to lure the Alabama teenager into his vehicle by offering $200.

By Sheenu Gupta On Jan 11, 2025 Share with new partner:

A Mexican national, identified as 31-year-old Yordy Centeno Melchor, who had previously been deported from the United States five times, has been arrested in Alabama for allegedly attempting to kidnap a teenage girl on New Year’s Eve. The incident reportedly took place around 5:40 p.m. in a store parking lot, according to local authorities.

Melchor has been charged with second-degree attempted kidnapping and is currently being held on a $100,000 bond in connection with the case.

Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin provided further details about the incident, explaining that Melchor allegedly approached the 17-year-old girl as she was moving a shopping cart in the parking lot. He reportedly used persuasion to lure her closer to his vehicle, though the exact nature of his words remains unclear. Sheriff Franklin emphasized that the teenager was vulnerable due to her age and the situation.

However, the attempted abduction was interrupted when a nearby man noticed the girl showing signs of distress. Realizing something was wrong, the man confronted Melchor, causing him to flee the scene before he could carry out the kidnapping.

Following the incident, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office issued a “be-on-the-lookout” (BOLO) alert in the area to locate Melchor. His arrest soon followed, and the investigation into the incident continues.

The sheriff’s office later secured a search warrant for the suspect’s phone, where investigators discovered detailed plans in the “notes” section outlining his intended actions, according to Sheriff Franklin.

The sheriff explained that the suspect had planned to offer the girl $200, adding that while he wouldn’t go into specific details, it was clear the suspect was attempting to persuade her to enter his vehicle.

Authorities are uncertain about when Melchor wrote the note, but the victim informed them that he had shown it to her, possibly as a way to signal his intent to offer her money.

A store employee in Holtville, where the incident occurred, provided parking lot surveillance footage to authorities. The video allowed investigators to identify the suspect’s license plate number.

A few days later, in a county located about 30 miles north of Elmore, law enforcement stopped a vehicle matching the description from the footage. After running the plates and confirming they matched those from the crime scene, officers identified the driver as Yordy Centeno Melchor, who also matched the suspect’s physical description.

Sheriff Bill Franklin emphasized the department’s stance, stating, “We will fully cooperate with ICE. We always will.”

Authorities later confirmed the suspect’s identity along with his history of five prior deportations. However, they are still investigating the circumstances behind each of those deportations.

After Melchor’s arrest, a local woman recognized his mugshot and reported seeing a man resembling him in the women’s restroom at a Walmart.

According to the sheriff, Melchor has connections to both San Antonio, Texas, and Shelby County, Alabama, and was known to frequently travel between the two locations to visit family. The suspect could face more charges if authorities are able to identify any additional victims.

Sheriff Franklin praised his team, calling them a “great group of guys” who share the common goal of keeping Elmore County safe. He mentioned that while Elmore County is neither particularly large nor small, officials typically do not encounter many crimes of this nature in the area.