Teenager From Elkton Fights Off Alleged Kidnapper

**lynnz05** · 06-19-07, 07:11 PM

Teenager From Elkton Fights Off Alleged Kidnapper
Full Story http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/8061652.html
By Leslie Rupiper

Nely Delgado has no problem remembering what happened in the early hours of Saturday morning. She says a man was coming in through her bedroom window. "When I woke up he was in my room and standing by my bed."

Investigators say the man was 20-year-old Juan Manuel Rodriguez.

Nely says he was an acquaintance of hers who'd actually knocked on her window several times in recent days, but she says what happened Saturday morning was different.

He tried to push me out the window and was pulling my hair and grabbing my hand really tight. Nely put up a fight and refused to leave with the man.

"I was just like, pushing him out the window and hitting him to get out," she said.

When her parents heard the ruckus and came into the room, the man took off. Police arrested Rodriguez a short time later, thanks to a description from Nely.

Brookings County Sheriff Marty Stanwick says, "She was not hurt and she did everything right."

Of course an incident like this is rare in a tiny town like Elkton. But authorities say it's a reminder that crimes like this can happen anywhere no matter what size the community.

"We still live in an age when we still trust everyone. We still have a lot of ones leave their keys in their car and have unlocked homes and I think this is probably a wakeup call," said Sheriff Stanwick.

As for Nely, she doesn't think Rodriguez wanted to hurt her, but she'll never know for sure.

"I think he just wanted to be with me."

Juan Rodriguez was in court Monday on several charges including kidnapping and burglary. He's scheduled to be back in court Tuesday.

Authorities say Rodriguez is an illegal alien so Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a hold on him.