Pensacola, FL – An eleven year old girl, Alyssa Bonal, was almost kidnapped in Escambia County. The assailant, Jared Stanga, approached and tried to kidnap Alyssa at a bus stop on the morning of May 18, 2021. The harrowing incident was caught on surveillance video.
Alyssa was able to fend off and escape from the would be kidnapper. Stanga fled in his vehicle but authorities were able to track him down and made the arrest about eight hours later. Stanga had made an attempt to avoid detection by painting his vehicle but authorities were not fooled. He was charged with attempted kidnapping of a child under 13 and aggravated assault and battery and also had a criminal history which includes sex crimes against children.
“I cannot help to think that this could have ended very differently. Had this 11-year-old victim not thought to fight and to fight and to just never give up, than this could have ended terribly. Luckily, she fights. She struggles and then she went limp. And she’s kicking and she’s pushing and she’s punching and she’s able to get free. He will never be free to do this again. Our concern was this wasn’t his first try. My message to her is that she is my hero, she did not give up.” – Chip Simmons, Escambia County Sheriff
Alyssa and her mother, Amber, spoke about the incident with WKRG News 5…
“A man came out of the car. He had a knife in his hand. I tried running off but he grabbed me. He took me with his arm and I was able to get him down to the ground and I was able to get away. What is he going to do with me? Where is he going to…where am I going to be at? What is my family going to think? Scared… anxious.” – Alyssa Bonal
“She’s an amazing little girl. I want parents to be extra aware. Even parents that watch their kids 24/7. The one time you don’t… that was the one time that I was running late. I had to change the baby’s diaper.” – Amber Bonal
This piece was written by Zach Heilman on May 20, 2021. It originally appeared in RedVoiceMedia.com and is used by permission.
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