Man accused of kidnapping 14-year-old due in court
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man accused of kidnapping a 14-year-old from her Parkway Village home resulting in a city-wide amber alert last week is now set to face a judge Wednesday morning.
Diego Velasquez-Espino, 19, is charged with kidnapping, fugitive from justice, and statutory rape in Mississippi. He is currently being held in a DeSoto County jail and will face a Southaven judge.
According to the Shelby County Criminal Justice System Portal, Espino is charged with aggravated kidnapping, four counts of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, and possession of a firearm/dangerous felony.
Man charged with aggravated kidnapping in connection to teen's abduction
At this time, it is still unclear when he will be extradited to Shelby County.
The Memphis Police Department says Espino abducted the teenager from her home off Knightway Road around 7 p.m. on Friday.
According to online court records, Espino's home address is listed as a trailer park located in the same area where the child was found — along Stateline Road just west of Southaven.
MPD says Espino was armed with a gun at the time of the alleged kidnapping.
Missing Memphis teen found in Southaven; suspect in custody
A nearby neighbor, relieved the child is home, says her husband watched the investigation unfold and notified her that something was wrong when he noticed a flock of officers outside the house.
'He said 'aw baby come outside. It's something going on.' I came out and the whole block right there was full of police cars,' she said. 'We haven't had anything like that around here. I thank God for that. That that little baby is home.'
U.S. Marshals alongside the Southaven Police Department found the child several hours after the alleged kidnapping.
Espino was taken into custody at that time. It remains unclear whether additional charges will be filed or not.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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