12-year-old girl escapes kidnapping in Sutton, suspects at large

The daughter of a bank employee was kidnapped for ransom Wednesday morning in Sutton, Quebec provincial police say.

The 12-year-old girl managed to escape hours after being taken.

A search is underway as the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) ask for the public’s help in finding at least two people wanted in the incident.

Police say the young girl was taken on her way to school Wednesday and that the kidnapping is not random.

The girl was specifically targetted for a ransom demand because her mother works at a CIBC branch in Sutton.

“We think the teenager was targetted because the suspect wanted a ransom from an employee of a bank,” said Guindon.

Police say the girl was quickly found walking on the street by officers.

The story of the  brazen kidnapping and ransom plot has shaken the tight-knit community.

“It’s very unnerving because we feel we live in a very safe community,” said resident Margaret Greene.

“So many people don’t lock their doors, their cars — and then you hear something like this.”

A neighbour of the girl’s family says he couldn’t believe this happened.

“It’s a crazy story, it’s very sad for the parents and the girl and the town because nothing happens in this town,” said George Constantin.

Suspects

Police are looking for at least two men, one of whom speaks English and the other speaks French.

They were seen driving a pale-coloured Econoline minivan.

The SQ has few details about the suspects and are looking for what they describe as an important witness to the incident.

The witness police want to talk to is a man who was last seen wearing black clothing with a white undershirt and white shoes. He was at a Tim Hortons on Knowlton Road in Lac Brome around 9 a.m. Wednesday.

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Police ask anyone who has information about the case to call 911 immediately. You can also provide information to investigators at the Sûreté du Québec online or by calling 1-800-659-4264.