Police Searching For Video To Investigate Massachusetts Girl Choked, Thrown Off Bridge

A 2004 Saturn Ion coupe stands on display. Joshua Hubert drove the 7-year-old girl he kidnapped in a Saturn Ion for over an hour before he choked her and threw her off a bridge on the Worcester/Shrewsbury border. She swam to safety and reported the incident. He is being held without bail until his dangerousness hearing Thursday. General Motors via Getty Images

Police investigating the attempted kidnapping and strangulation of a 7-year-old girl from Worcester, Massachusetts, who survived being thrown into a lake Sunday, have asked local businesses for surveillance video to obtain footage of a car driven by the suspect.

The girl, who swam to shore after plummeting into Lake Quinsigamond, said she approached the first house she saw with its lights on at around 4:30 a.m. "in pajamas soaking wet" and with no life-threatening injuries, according to Boston CBS-affiliate WBZ.

Joshua Hubert, 35, is accused of kidnapping the girl from her grandparents’ Worcester home Sunday, choking her and throwing her off an Interstate 290 bridge into Lake Quinsigamond. His motives for the attempted kidnapping are unclear. Hubert, who was described as a family friend, allegedly took her without her parents’ permission while she was asleep in a chair at around 2:30 a.m.

7-year-old girl was asleep in grandparents' home before she was abducted, thrown off bridge by family friend https://t.co/TaYEFI7bKy
— masslivenews (@masslivenews) August 28, 2017

Hubert is being held without bail after arraignment on a kidnapping charge Monday at Worcester Central District Court. Police said he drove with the girl in his car for over an hour before throwing her off the bridge, reported Worcester ABC-affiliate WCVB Monday.

“Detectives want to take this time and reach out to business owners in the Lincoln Street area and also to businesses in Shrewsbury that may have outside video. Detectives are urging those that have cameras to review their video from August 27 from 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m.,” police said in a press release Monday. “Investigators are looking for any video footage that may have captured a light colored Saturn Ion that could have entered their parking lot during that time frame.”

Hubert is being held without bail until his dangerousness hearing Thursday.

“All I can tell you is that we are maintaining innocence at this time,” said Richard M. Wesh, Hubert’s defense attorney, according to WBZ.

“Fortunately a greater tragedy was averted. The young victim had the strength to make it to shore and get help,” District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said in a statement. “I want to thank the resident who answered the door and helped the girl. I also want to acknowledge the Worcester and Shrewsbury police and the State Police Detectives assigned to my office. They did a terrific job working together in investigating this case.”