10-Year-Old Girl Abducted From Her Home in the Middle of the Night Is Found Bound Inside a Closet — Suspect Arrested

The child was missing for nearly 13 hours after an intruder allegedly attacked her older sister and took her from their Oregon apartment.

A quiet night in Canby, Oregon, turned into a nightmare for one family when an intruder allegedly entered their apartment in the early hours of October 28, 2026. According to investigators, the man attacked a 12-year-old girl before taking her 10-year-old sister from the home. The children’s mother called 911, prompting an urgent search involving local police, federal authorities and specialized tactical teams. What began as a desperate effort to locate a missing child soon became a race against time.

Authorities said the older sister was seriously injured during the attack. A source cited by The Oregonian reported that she had been struck with a hammer, while prosecutors later described her injuries as severe. She was transported to a hospital for treatment and remained hospitalized as investigators worked to locate her younger sister. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the suspect’s precise connection to the family, were not immediately made public.

Investigators identified 35-year-old Vince Edgar Chavez as the primary suspect. Police followed several leads, including information about a vehicle and the suspect’s phone, which helped direct authorities to a residence in Oregon City, approximately 10 miles from the children’s home. At around 2:45 p.m., nearly 13 hours after the alleged abduction, officers entered the property. Inside, they discovered the missing 10-year-old girl bound with duct tape and hidden in a duffel bag inside a closet. She was alive and was taken to a medical facility for treatment and further evaluation.

As officers moved into the residence, Chavez allegedly attempted to flee through the rear of the house. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies arrested him without further incident. Canby Police Chief Jose Gonzalez became emotional while announcing that the child had been found alive, describing the rescue as a tremendous relief after hours of uncertainty. The coordinated search involved the U.S. Marshals Service, the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon City police, a tactical negotiation team and the FBI.

Chavez was subsequently charged with multiple serious offenses, including first-degree kidnapping, attempted first-degree murder, assault, burglary and several sex-related crimes, according to court documents and reports from ABC News. He also faces charges connected to the alleged attack on the 12-year-old girl. Prosecutors said there was some connection between Chavez and the victim, but they did not publicly explain the nature of that relationship or establish a motive. The investigation remains an important part of determining exactly what happened inside the apartment and at the residence where the younger child was found.

For the family, the rescue brought an end to the terrifying search, but the recovery is far from over. Two young sisters were taken to medical care after an alleged attack that unfolded while their family was at home. Authorities have not released further details about the children’s conditions or the full circumstances leading up to the incident. Chavez’s charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: PEOPLE – Girl Kidnapped From Home in Middle of Night Found Tied in Closet Hours Later