A Chelsea man is behind bars today, charged with trying to kidnap the girl as she got on the bus at St. Rose Elementary School on Feb. 2.
Leonel Zelaya, also known as Gerado Zelaya, 43, allegedly tried to pull the girl away as she was boarding a bus for home around 2:45 p.m, claiming he was her brother, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office. Instead, the girl began screaming: "No, no! No, I don’t know him!" Zelaya fled and a teacher called police, who found him at Broadway and Cary Street, the DA's office says.
Zelaya pleaded innocent at his arraignment in Chelsea District Court on charges of attempted kidnapping and assault and battery. Bail was set at $10,000, but even if he could raise that, he'd remain in jail because the judge revoked his bail on an earlier, unrelated charge, the DA's office says. DA Dan Conley said in a statement:
This little girl did exactly the right thing. She resisted, she spoke up, and she stayed with the adult she knew. For all our concern about internet predators in this modern age, what we used to call 'stranger danger' is still a very real concern for anyone who has children.
Innocent, etc.
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Comments
Good bid
By Will LaTulippe
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 1:45pm
A 43 year old as the brother of an 8 year old? Really, guy?
I think they should find out
By ShadyMilkMan
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 2:31pm
I think they should find out where the girl learned how to stand up for herself like that and make sure that all kids know about it as well. Its a very effective way of getting attention, rather then just yelling "stop" or "I dont want to" or just screaming at the top of her lungs (all of which could be seen as a little girl who doesnt want to go to the Dentist or who is mad at her guardian) she expressed exactly what she needed to to get the attention she needed. "I dont know him" is very effective because its not generally something a kid would say in a fight with their parents/siblings.
bail copout
By Ron Stevens
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 2:56pm
What the hell is wrong with the judge;this psycho
gets a $10,000 bail;earth to Boston,add at least
three more zeroes.
Because it's Massachusetts
By Will LaTulippe
Thu, 02/05/2009 - 5:47pm
And nobody wants to hurt the poor criminal.
KidNapping
By SnoWhtNotQQn
Sat, 03/21/2009 - 11:03am
I think this kidnapper should be behind bars for life..better yet hope someone rellay does a job on him while he is behind bars. This little girl was just one of the very lucky children that knew what to do in such a critical situation like this. There are so many children that need to be educated in this type of situation, especially in a city like Chelsea. The area of the school is not a very safe place I myself am sometime afraid to get of the bus in this area because of the drunks and drugs and even gang realated not many speak english they just hang on the steps of the stores and houses and the bus stops. Kind of makes me wish i never moved here from Somerville.