An 8-year-old Colorado girl was nearly kidnapped by an intruder wearing a clown mask in Sterling, Colorado. The suspect, Thomas Gallegos, 56, was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping, assault, child abuse, and burglary. The incident occurred at the girl’s home in the middle of the night, with Gallegos allegedly entering her room, blindfolding her, and then striking her in the head when she fought back, leaving her unconscious. The victim was able to alert her mother when she regained consciousness, leading to Gallegos fleeing the scene.
Evidence, including a clown mask and gloves, was found in the girl’s room, and investigators identified Gallegos as the suspect through security video and location data from the girl’s phone. Gallegos denied the allegations, claiming he was in Denver at the time, but his wife confirmed he was the man seen in the security video wearing dark clothes and carrying a clown mask that belonged to their grandson.
Despite his denial, Gallegos was served with a court order for his DNA and cellphone. It is not clear if he has obtained legal representation. The girl sustained injuries to her eye and head that required staples, and Gallegos faces serious charges for his alleged actions. The motive for the attempted kidnapping remains unclear.
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