SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KNX) — A missing 15-year old girl returned home safely Thursday, admitting to Santa Rosa Police that her disappearance — which led to an Amber Alert out of Sonoma County — was a prank that was pulled onher, investigators said.
State authorities issued the alert Thursday, less than a day after Georgiana Bambaloi of Vallejo was reportedly snatched and kidnapped by a man in the parking lot of a Santa Rosa, Calif. gas station.
Officials with California Highway Patrol search for a green 2007 Chrysler Town and Country and alerted the public that it could be headed to the Los Angeles area. The minivan bore a temporary paper license plate from Texas reading 12478U3.
A witness reported the alleged abduction to investigators, saying that the 15-year-old was standing near family when a man ran across the lot and grabbed her, forcing her into the minivan and before driving away.
CHP officials identified the suspect as 20-year-old Ionita Cimino.
Thursday afternoon Santa Rosa Police tweeted an update, explaining that Bambaloi returned home around 8 a.m. that day on her own and explained that "she was grabbed by a male acquaintance and her boyfriend was driving the vehicle," police said in a statement.
"Detectives spoke with her and learned that this was not a case of child abduction, but rather a poorly planned, decided prank," Lt. Dan Marincik said in a video tweeted by the department.
Police explained that the alleged kidnapping was a prank directed at the teen and was never meant to cause a public scare about an abduction. They have attempted to reach out to Bambaloi's boyfriend, but said he "cannot be located at this time."
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