Alleged Kidnapper Stopped At Canadian Border With Teen Girl Over Lack Of COVID-19 Test

A teen girl who said she was kidnapped from her home in Connecticut has been rescued after the alleged kidnapper and the girl failed to provide proof of COVID-19 tests while trying to cross the Canadian border, authorities said.

The alleged kidnapper, 19-year-old Christopher Costanzo, along with the 16-year-old unidentified victim, was denied entry into Canada for the lack of COVID-19 tests. Costanzo was taken into custody after the girl told the authorities at the Vermont border that she has been kidnapped by him and held against her will, New York Post reported.

Costanzo allegedly kidnapped the girl from Torrington, Connecticut, and sexually assaulted her before heading toward Canada. He then reportedly tied her up with a shoelace and forced her at knifepoint into the trunk of her parent's car. Before attempting to cross the border, Costanzo removed the girl from the trunk and placed her in the car, according to an arrest affidavit.

The girl told the officials that she had met Costanzo through a mutual friend and went to meet him on Dec.1. The girl's parents had reported her to be last seen at 6 p.m. the same day. The teen said Costanzo sexually assaulted her that night and forced her into the car's trunk before driving her away.

Costanzo reportedly sexually assaulted the girl again at night after taking her out of the trunk. On their way to Canada, Costanzo stopped at a convenience store and put her in the backseat still restrained with the shoelace, according to the arrest affidavit.

As they approached the border, the girl was told to “act normal” and go along with Costanzo's story. The young man reportedly told the border officers that they were siblings and were going to Canada for four days to visit friends, reported CT Insider.

Investigators found strands of the victim's hair from the car trunk and a single shoelace from the backseat that Costanzo reportedly used to restrain the girl. They also recovered the knife he allegedly used to threaten the girl. Costanzo is expected to face federal charges, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the authorities said Costanzo had been under investigation for a sexual assault complaint involving another victim where the latter was also threatened using a knife.