A Michigan man accused of kidnapping his 7-year-old daughter from ex-wife”s home in Pennsylvania on Sunday was arrested on Wednesday, still in the Keystone State.
Police said the little girl has been brought back to her mother and Jafar Almaarej faces mutlple charges, including kidnapping and making terroristic threats, WDIV reported.
“That’s the important thing, that the girl was safe,” said Millcreek Township Police Chief Carter Mook. “This situation could’ve been much worse.”
Detective Adam Hardner told WJBK that Almaarej had gone to Pennsylvania for a weekend visit. The mother, who has sole custody of the child, left her with the father on Sunday while she went to work. Soon after, he said, she received a text from Almaarej.
“Jafar sent her a text message stating that if she called law enforcement, they would have to search for their bones,” Hardner said.
The search for the kidnapper and his victim went back to Dearborn, where Almaarej lives, but his black Jeep Wrangler was ultimately spotted still in Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, about two hours from Millcreek, where the mother lives.
US Marshals followed him back to Millcreek, where he turned himself in.
