When Frank Gervasi’s 14-year-old daughter, Emmarae Gervasi, disappeared on December 9, 2024, her father jumped into action. Working alongside law enforcement, Gervasi became known as the real-lifeTaken dad, a nod to Liam Neeson’s character in the 2008 film. Because of Gervasi’s dedication to finding Emmarae, he recovered her 25 days after she vanished. Gervasi had a gut feeling someone was holding his daughter against her will, but he never could have imagined how serious the situation was.
According to Newsday, via the New York Post, police have arrested nine people in connection with Emmarae’s alleged kidnapping and subsequent horrific abuse. Alton Harrell, 35, was reportedly the ringleader. According to Newsday, Harrell had a sexual relationship with Emmarae, dating back to 2024. A grand jury indicted him on charges of kidnapping and rape, and he faces life in prison if he’s convicted.
Harrell allegedly picked up Emmarae on December 9 and took her to an abandoned house, where he provided her with drugs in exchange for sex. But that was only the beginning of the teenager’s nightmare.
Francis Buckheit, 64; Daniel Burke, 63; Elizabeth Hunter, 34; Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52; Robert Eccleston, 61; Bunice Knight, 47; Kevin McDonald, 20, and Ralph Knowles, 63, also allegedly abused Emmarae in multiple ways during her reported captivity, the Post reported.
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McDonald allegedly assaulted her in a car and took her to a motel; he faces rape and endangering the welfare of a child charges.
Burke allegedly kept the teen captive in a mobile home, and Buckheit owned the boat where her father rescued her. They each face charges of kidnapping and rape.
While she was under captivity, Eccleston allegedly raped Emmarae and kept her in a garbage container. He faces kidnapping charges. Hunter and Comiskey face sex trafficking charges after multiple people allegedly raped Emmarae on the boat.
Knight allegedly exchanged drugs with Cominsky for sex with Emmarae at his home. He faces charges of criminal positioned on a controlled substance with intent to sell. The court charged Knowles with rape, sexual abuse, forcible touching, and endangering the welfare of a child.
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Following his daughter’s recovery, Gervasi told the Daily Mail, “I followed it up on my own and I went down there to check. I bust into the boat and recovered my daughter. She has been saved and is alive. I believe it was persistency that helped bring her home.”
Now, he’ll wait to see if justice is truly served for Emmarae.
