Police in California are crediting good Samaritans with help capturing a suspected kidnapper. Steven Robert Sablan, 61, allegedly took a 13-year-old girl from San Antonio, Texas, on July 6. The pair were reportedly discovered in Long Beach, California, on July 9, when they stopped to do laundry and Sablan inquired about food.
Although the restaurant Sablan was interested in was closed that day, witnesses in the case reportedly distracted him and told him to wait in the parking lot anyway. During that time, the alleged victim held a sign that read, “Help Me” up to the car window. The sign prompted a call to the police, and the suspect was arrested. The quick thinking of concerned passersby may have saved the teen’s life.
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Sablan reportedly threatened the girl.
According to court documents obtained by the US Department of Justice, Sablan approached the teen, who was walking near a bus stop in San Antonio. He slowed his gray Nissan Sentra, allegedly raised a black handgun, and said, “If you don’t get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you.” The documents stated the teen was afraid for her life and complied with Sablan’s demands. The two reportedly took off in the car, and a three-day nightmare began.
The teen was allegedly sexually abused multiple times over the next several days.
According to the DOJ, Sablan told the teen he had a friend in Australia and would take her on a cruise ship to meet him, but “she had to do something for him first.” Sablan allegedly repeatedly sexually abused the teen as they drove from Texas to California. When the pair arrived at the laundromat parking lot in Long Beach on July 9, the teen bravely attempted to get help.
A laundromat employee said 'God' sent Sablan to her place of business that morning.
Touch Vong told KTLA that Sablan came into the Easy Wash Laundromat to wash some clothes and began asking about a nearby restaurant. She said she knew the establishment wasn’t open that day, but she told him to wait in the parking lot until 11 a.m. anyway. She felt like God was telling her what to do.
“God let me know … that’s why I stopped him,” Vong told KTLA 5. “Because I know the restaurant wasn’t open, but I said wait until 11 so they open. If I didn’t say that … she might be gone.”
Sablan reportedly stayed at the first washing machine and watched the car while he was inside, KENS 5 reported. The teen girl took this as an opportunity to get help.
A witness reportedly felt like something was wrong and called the police.
A woman and her boyfriend were in the laundromat parking lot when she said she saw the girl mouth “Help Me” and hold up a sign that read the same. She told KENS 5 the girl looked frightened, and she knew something was wrong. She and her boyfriend called the police for help.
“The expression on her face when she was looking at me like, ‘Don’t leave me.’ That’s when I told my boyfriend she needs help,” the witness said. Police arrived and promptly arrested Sablan.
“I want to commend our community members for their vigilance and willingness to get involved by calling 9-1-1. This incident highlights the critical role community members play in keeping people safe,” said Long Beach Chief of Police Wally Hebeish noted in a statement. “I would also like to acknowledge our officers for their swift response and actions which led to getting this victim to safety.”
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Sablan could be in prison for the rest of his life.
According to the DOJ, during the search of his car, police found a BB gun, a pair of handcuffs, and a sign that said “Help Me.”
Sablan was charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor intending to engage in criminal sexual activity. He faces a maximum life sentence in prison if convicted on both charges.
