Olivia Ambrose Details: Accused Kidnapper Gets Mental Evaluation

CHARLESTOWN, MA — The man accused of kidnapping Olivia Ambrose in Boston this weekend will spend the next 20 days being evaluated at a mental hospital.

Victor Pena walked into court Wednesday wearing a white jumper, sobbing, his legs shackled and his hands handcuffed behind his back. He cried again as he was placed in the sheriff's van to head to the hospital after the arraignment.

Pena, 38, of Charlestown, was given an initial mental health evaluation before his court appearance at the request of his attorney. Following that evaluation, the judge ordered Pena held without bail and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a 20-day mental competency evaluation.

A court-appointed mental health clinician, Dr. Jodie Shapiro, said that when she talked to Pena, he acted bizarrely and fell to his knees several times, sucked his thumb and prayed loudly for forgiveness and appeared to be hearing voices.

"His behavior appears to be somewhat psychotic, but also bizarre," Shapiro said. "Some symptoms are so bizarre to suggest exaggeration."

Pena is charged with kidnapping of Ambrose, 23, Saturday night. The District Attorney's office said other charges may soon be filed.

THE AMBROSE DISAPPEARANCE: A VIDEO TIMELINE

The search for Ambrose ended when she was found alive in Pena's Charlestown apartment Tuesday afternoon.

Pena was identified with the help of transit police, neighbors and Charlie Card information, but he didn't come willingly, according to a court document.

Boston Police worked with transit authorities to figure out who Pena was after spotting him on surveillance video accompanying Ambrose and used the last ping of her cell phone, which Ambrose's sister helped hand over, to help narrow the search.

After tracing the possible kidnapping to Walford Way, matching Charlie Card info, Facebook photos and neighbors to the suspect, police went to Pena's apartment at a Boston housing authority building to ask him some questions and look for Ambrose, the report said.

Around that time Tuesday, Ambrose was able to start texting her mother, the report said.

Police said they were concerned for Ambrose's life.

Pena had installed his own lock on the door, against the complex rules. So officials began to drill it out.

READ THIS: See What Olivia Ambrose's Fateful Trip Looked Like

Police said after 20 minutes of knocking on the door and drilling out the top lock, Pena opened the door and "detectives could see the victim standing next to Pena, crying with a horrified look on her face," according to the report.

The detectives attempted to place handcuffs on Pena in the kitchen, but he refused to comply and "resisted violently," according to the report, which added it took three detectives to cuff him.

Ambrose told police she was being held against her will in Pena's apartment, and that he took her cell phone and refused to let her leave.

Defense attorney Joseph Perullo represented Pena. He is due back in court on February 11.

UPDATE: The second man seen in surveillance video that helped track Pena and Ambrose was cleared by detectives and is being treated as a witness, according to police.

READ the timeline>> Olivia Ambrose Found: Charlestown Man Charged With Kidnapping

Some raw footage from today's events:

Catch up here:

• Olivia Ambrose Found: Charlestown Man Charged With Kidnapping
• What Olivia Ambrose's Fateful Trip Looked Like
• Missing Woman, 23, Last Seen Leaving Boston Bar: Police, Family

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Photos by Jenna Fisher, Patch