HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A missing 3-year-old girl was found in a north Houston motel room with a stranger, and now authorities are trying to figure out what happened to her during the 10 hours she was missing.
Holman Hernandez, 50, is charged with aggravated kidnapping with a bond at $1 million.
In the event Hernandez posts bond, he is granted the state’s motion that he be on house arrest with GPS monitoring.
Hernandez is accused of luring the 3-year-old girl into his car with a cat, kidnapping her, and taking her to a motel just minutes away, where court records reveal he was found in the bed with the girl. He was wearing just boxers, while the girl was in a shirt and diaper, according to records.
was there as police surrounded the motel room on Rankin Road, where they found him on Sunday at about 2 p.m.
CHARGED: Booking photo of Holman Hernandez, 50, now charged with aggravated kidnapping in yesterday’s #AMBERAlert.The 3 year-old victim was successfully reunited with her family yesterday afternoon.#hounews#OneSafeHouston https://t.co/BKuKgv4Ymc pic.twitter.com/pAEoYO1m5w
%u2014 Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 22, 2022
“Officers approached the room, knocked on the door. The suspect didn’t answer, and because of the age of the kid, officers forced entry into the unit,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. “Once they got in, the kid was observed inside with the suspect.”
Several officers who were off-duty were called in to help canvas the Northborough area after the girl’s parents reported her missing from their apartment in the 12800 block of Northborough Drive, according to Finner.
Her parents told police they went to sleep at about 11 p.m. on Saturday and woke up at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday to find their door wide open and their daughter missing.
As officers searched the neighborhood, a neighbor told them they spotted the girl with the suspect. Their testimony helped the police determine exactly who they were looking for.
Police said they saw the suspect’s car parked at the motel. Management told them the suspect checked into a room at about 7:30 a.m.
The #AmberAlert is cancelled. The child has been safely located and the suspect is in custody. A media briefing will be held at 431 Rankin Road (at North Freeway) in 30 minutes (4:15 PM).
%u2014 Houston Police (@houstonpolice) August 21, 2022
Officers don’t believe there is any connection between Hernandez and the family.
“I can’t imagine what they are going through, with a few hours of not knowing where their little baby girl is,” Finner said. “It’s just tough. But we’re so glad. Blessed. Thank God the baby is OK.”
The charge against Hernandez was posted on Monday morning.
Hernandez is due back in court on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
