A family in Lexington is reeling after a chilling incident on Thursday afternoon, when a man attempted to abduct a 9-year-old autistic girl from her backyard. According to NBC Boston, the suspect, described as wearing a ski mask and all-black clothing, allegedly grabbed the girl and tried to cover her mouth to silence her screams. The child managed to escape by kicking the assailant and running to safety.
Lexington Police received the distressing call around 2 p.m., launching an immediate investigation into the attempted kidnapping. Despite the traumatic experience, the young girl leveraged her karate training to defensively strike her captor and swiftly retreat. "My daughter was able to kick him in his genital area and she was able to get away so I'm very grateful," the mother said in a statement obtained by CBS Boston. Her identity has been withheld for the family's protection.
The girl's mother expressed her fear following the ordeal, saying she felt paralyzed at the thought of returning to work or letting her children attend school. "For me to know there's a man behind my house hiding, that's just like, it makes me feel very unsafe, just being home in general because I am a single mother of three," she told NBC Boston through tears.
Community members are equally shaken, sharing their alarm and heightened vigilance. Jessica Holt-Carr, a neighbor, referenced a letter from school leaders warning about the incident saying, "It just proves that even in Lexington these things happen." Meanwhile, a local 7th grader urged his peers to "Don't trust every single person you see for sure yeah," Russell told CBS Boston, indicating that the incident has sparked widespread concern among residents.
Lexington Police have urged anyone with information to come forward while assuring the public that the case is being actively shared with regional detective groups. In the wake of the attempted abduction, the mother urges other parents to engage in critical conversations about stranger danger, emphasizing the importance of children recognizing inappropriate interactions. "It's very important to talk to them about how people shouldn't like touch them inappropriately, how they shouldn't go up to strangers," she said, expressing a sentiment of both fear and pride for her daughter's bravery.
