Investigators said adults noticed the little girl had been taken from a van just after midnight, where she had been sleeping with other children while they offered Christmas prayers. "They immediately spread out, they started searching the surrounding area and they located the four year old in a nearby orchard," said Deputy Chris Curtice with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department.
Investigators said the little girl was naked and had been assaulted. Family members rushed the child to Community Regional Medical Center. That's also where her suspected kidnapper showed up and was taken into custody. "He was complaining that he had been the victim of an unrelated assault so the deputies and the hospital security started talking to him. It was apparent that he was not telling the truth and he was ultimately linked to the assault of the four year old," said Curtice.
Fresno County Sheriff's Deputies said it's possible the suspect had attended the Christmas party. Friday, farm workers told Action News up to 150 people attended that party and candles could be seen outside of a home where Christmas prayers were offered. It was a party meant to celebrate the birth of Christ, but ended with a heinous crime.
The suspect, 24 year old Juan Gomez-Jimenez is in the Fresno County Jail, facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping, and sexually assaulting a child.
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