Man Accused In Springfield Abduction Charged With Child Rape

SPRINGFIELD, MA — The Springfield man accused of abducting and driving off with and 11-year-old girl is now charged with child rape. Miguel Rodriguez is facing three counts of aggravated rape of a child with force and one count of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

Rodriguez was initially charged with kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. He was held without bail and ordered to have a mental evaluation.

An Amber alert was issued last Wednesday evening after an 11-year-old Springfield girl went missing. Witnesses said she was forced into a blue Honda shortly after getting off a school bus. Police received several 911 calls from drivers who said they saw a Honda matching the description and were able to stop the car and arrest Rodriguez while he was still on the Mass Pike.

The girl was "recovered safely" and with "no apparent injuries," police said. She was taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluations.

A relative of the Rodriguez said he forced her to engage in a sex act under threat and touched her in inappropriately years ago.