Kidnapping suspect failed to register as sex offender; Lesley returns home

HIDALGO — Lesley Perez gave a shy grin Thursday morning as she stood before the television crews stationed in her front yard.

With her hair pulled back and her family looking on, the kidnapped girl who captured the hearts of the Rio Grande Valley made it clear she was grateful to be home.

"Thank you for everything," the 4-year-old, clad in a new dress, said in Spanish. "And I love my mom a lot."

After that, Lesley sang a song and said a prayer in front of the cameras before she showed off the stuffed animals and dolls police gave her.

"I'm so happy we are together," San Juana Perez, the girl's mother, said in Spanish as she broke into tears. "It's a miracle of God that all the people helped us."

Lesley's appearance came less than an hour after law enforcement officers shed light on the details of her kidnapping and her alleged captor — a young man who had failed to register as a sex offender and reportedly snatched the child from her sister's arms. (Click here to view video from Thursday's news conference)

"This is the first case I've seen like this," said Hidalgo police Chief Vernon Rosser, who has been an officer since 1971. "This was a total stranger and it had a big fear factor."

DISCOVERY

Authorities arrested Christian Elijahlee McMillan, a 23-year-old ex-carnival worker living in Mercedes, about 9:50 p.m. Wednesday at a farm north of that city, near the intersection of Farm-to-Market Road 1425 and Mile 11 North Road.

"This is one of those true child abductor cases that involves a complete stranger," said John Johnson, who heads the FBI office in McAllen.

McMillan ripped Lesley from her older sister's arms about 25 hours earlier as they played in a vacant lot across from their home in the Sanchez Ranch subdivision, according to authorities.

That sister, 12-year-old Brianda, gave police many of the details of the suspect's vehicle and appearance, authorities said.

"She was an incredibly informative witness for us," Johnson said.

The Amber Alert for Lesley's disappearance went out before dawn Wednesday. By that afternoon, authorities had named Hidalgo resident Raul Ornelas, 40, as their suspect.

Police located Ornelas and took him in for questioning but let him go after it became clear he was not their man.

"I don't know why people think he did anything," said Ornelas' wife, Lety Ledesema. "It's been very embarrassing for us."

Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies, aided by the FBI and the Texas Rangers, surveyed the farm where McMillan's truck was spotted Wednesday night. Gray primer paint covered the sides of the Ford F-150 in an attempt "to disguise the truck that was identified," Johnson said.

McMillan stepped outside, apparently unaware he was being watched. Authorities seized the opportunity and arrested him.

"It wasn't necessary for us to do any kind of tactical entry into the house," Johnson said.

He noted that tip lines set up by Hidalgo police were crucial to solving the abduction but would not say what led investigators to McMillan.

By 3:30 a.m. Thursday — almost exactly a day after the Amber Alert was requested — Lesley was back at home.

"When she was found, everyone went outside and gathered, crying in joy," neighbor Maria Rodriguez, a mother of three, said in Spanish.

FAILED TO REGISTER

Whether Lesley was sexually assaulted during her daylong encounter with McMillan remains unclear.

The former carnival worker who had recently relocated to Mercedes has a previous criminal record, including at least one sexual offense when he was a minor.

Sgt. Joshua McVay of the Citrus City Police Department in Sacramento County, Calif., confirmed McMillan registered as a sex offender in 2007 but failed to register again as the law requires.

He is currently violating California law for failing to register as a sex offender, McVay said.

McMillan's history of sexual assault dates back to when he was a minor in Del Norte County, Calif., in the northwest part of the state. McVay had no details on what offense McMillan had committed.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said his office has requested certified records about McMillan's failure to register in California.

Once the deputies receive those documents, McMillan could also face charges for failing to register when he arrived in Hidalgo County. He is not listed on any Texas sex offender registry.

Agents found Lesley inside the Mercedes home where McMillan was spotted and took her to Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco to check for any signs of abuse. Authorities and relatives said they were waiting to receive the results from those tests.

Lesley was in therapy Thursday afternoon as she recovers from her experience, her aunt Marisol Rivera said.

"She looked a little bit scared when I saw her," Rivera said in Spanish. "I see her traumatized. Earlier she was throwing everything."

Authorities would not elaborate on Lesley's medical condition or on whether McMillan would be charged with sexual assault.

"I can't comment on it," said Hidalgo police Capt. Robert Vela. "Sorry."

‘RETURN TO NORMAL'

In the neighborhood where the abduction took place, children were playing outside Thursday afternoon as their mothers closely watched over them.

About a dozen people were gathered at the Perez household, where balloons were flying and children were served cake.

"We want things to return to normal," said Lazaro Perez, Lesley's father. "We don't want to think about it anymore."

McMillan had cased the neighborhood for three days before he snatched the girl, the FBI's Johnson said.

"Several people saw him and were suspicious of him," he said. "But nobody reported it."

Johnson said people should call police whenever they witness something suspicious.

After Lesley's kidnapping, it seems parents in the neighborhood may be more cautious now.

"We were scared, also for our own children," neighbor Glenda Lugo said.

McMillan's arraignment is set for this afternoon in Hidalgo Municipal Court. He will likely face one count of aggravated kidnapping and possibly other charges — felony counts that could send him to prison for up to 99 years upon conviction.

"There was much unity during the ordeal," said Rodriguez, the neighbor with three children of her own. "Everyone got together."

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Jared Taylor and Ana Ley cover law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. Jeremy Roebuck covers courts and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach them at (956) 683-4000.

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Click here for the story of the little girl's abduction and her recovery Wednesday night.