BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Girl trapped in Alabama home with dead bodies chewed self free

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

DADEVILLE, Ala. (WRBL) — A 12-year-old girl escaped an alleged kidnapping at a mobile home where two decomposing bodies were found in Alabama.

Investigators are calling the girl who escaped early Monday morning a “hero.” They say the girl was restrained to bed posts inside the mobile home for more than a week and given alcohol to keep her in a drugged state. She escaped by chewing out of her restraints, damaging the braces on her teeth in the process, detectives say.

The man who lived at the mobile home, 37-year-old Jose Reyes, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree kidnapping. Prosecutors expect to charge Reyes with two counts of capital murder, along with other charges, after their investigation revealed two decomposing bodies inside the residence.

Investigators said the kidnapping took place around July 24. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett would not say how Reyes knew the child or if the child was related to the two individuals found dead inside the home. Their identities and cause of death have yet to be released. The child was not reported missing by any relatives.

Abbett declined to say if the child’s family had been located.

Reyes was located Monday in the Auburn area by U.S. Marshalls and taken into custody. He is being held without bond in Tallapoosa County pending additional charges.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are also involved in the investigation.

Southeast

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

58°F Clear Feels like 58°
Wind
4 mph ESE
Humidity
47%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Clear skies. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
44°F Clear skies. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
5 mph NNE
Precip
0%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous