Man Kidnaps Teen Girl When He Carjacks Toyota Tundra

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With many people trying to squeeze in that last road trip before school starts again, it’s important everyone properly secures their vehicle. That’s especially true if a family member is asleep inside and you’re at a roadside stop. A 15-year-old girl was briefly kidnapped by a carjacker in Ohio recently, making for one scary situation.

Apple iPad helps police find a child taken in a stolen car.

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office says that on July 13 just before 1 pm a man called to report his 2023 Toyota Tundra along with his teenage daughter had been taken from a Travelcenters of America on SR 435 and I-71 in Ohio.

The sleeping teen woke up to find a stranger driving her dad’s truck and called 911 as she asked the man to let her go. He did stop the truck and let her out, thankfully, although she had absolutely no idea where she was. An off-duty Lieutenant with the sheriff’s office located her not too long after.

But there still was the matter of the stolen pickup. When one deputy caught up with it he tried getting the suspect to stop but instead the guy chose to run. After a short pursuit, the Tundra and the deputy’s vehicle collided in a roundabout, which sounds about right.

Both the deputy and 36-year-old Anthony B. Rucker of Cuba, Ohio sustained minor injuries in the collision. Both were treated at a local hospital and then were released. Then Rucker was taken to the county jail on charges of felonious assault, possession of drugs, theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding, plus kidnapping.

Even better, Rucker reportedly already had warrants for his arrest in two other counties. Thankfully, the judge decided to have him held without bond, almost like he has a history of skipping out on court dates or something.

We don’t know exactly how Rucker was able to steal the Tundra, but we do know many times people forget to lock their doors and take their key fob with them, believing it’s either a hassle or paranoid. Both are good habits to have, especially when your teen is asleep in the car.

Images via Fayette County OH Sheriffs Office/Facebook

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