PA Man Abducted 2 Girls, Left Them On Side Of Highway In Aberdeen: PD

ABERDEEN, NJ — A Philadelphia man is accused of kidnapping two girls, ages 13 and 11, sexually assaulting at least one of them and then abandoning the girls on the side of Rt. 34 in Aberdeen early Monday morning, according to Aberdeen Police.

Benjamin Pessin, 43, of Philadelphia, is charged with one count of kidnapping, multiple counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of sex assault and one count of aggravated sex assault, said Aberdeen Police.

Aberdeen Police first announced the arrest Tuesday on their Facebook page. However, police and Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini provided Patch with more information:

Police say the incident unfolded when the two girls knocked on doors in Aberdeen Township in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning. They were "trying to find a place to sleep," said police.

A resident called 911.

"What followed was 20 hours of diligent police work by our Department’s patrol division and detective bureau, along with assistance from the Marlboro Township Police Department, Old Bridge Township Police Department and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office," said Aberdeen Police in a statement.

Police allege Pessin abducted the two girls in Philadelphia and drove them to Aberdeen Township. Neither of the girls live in Aberdeen, nor does he. At some point, he is accused of sexually assaulting either one or both of the girls, said police. He is charged with count of sex assault and one count of aggravated sex assault. Police declined to elaborate.

At some time before 5:00 a.m. Monday, he dropped both girls off on the side of the road along Rt. 34 in Aberdeen.

That was when the girls knocked on a resident's door in order to find somewhere to sleep, and the homeowner called 911. This was in the "O" section of Aberdeen, said the mayor. Aberdeen streets are broken up alphabetically.

Police responded and located the girls.

The mayor said police were also able to identify the man's car through security cameras.

At 8:40 p.m. that same day, Monday, Pessin was taken into custody by members of the Aberdeen Police Department in the parking lot of the Aberdeen McDonalds on Rt. 34.

Mayor Tagilarini called the incident "one of the most bizarre incidents — and moments of incredible police work — in my time as mayor."

"I couldn't be prouder of our detective bureau and police department to work so quickly in securing the safety of those girls," said Tagliarini. "And we have to give kudos to that resident in the 'O' section whose door they knocked on. That resident, who I won't name, immediately called police, and police found the girls moments later walking through the 'O' section."

"That resident is shaken up," continued the mayor. "He cannot believe that his actions might have saved their lives.'

Tagliarini also said he could not to say anything else, citing the ongoing investigation.

Pessin was processed and transported to the Monmouth County Correctional Institution. The children were reunited with their mother.

Aberdeen Police refused to release any more details, saying: "This is currently an active investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this incident or has any previous dealings with Pessin, please contact lead investigator Aberdeen Police Detective Heather Ford at Heather.ford@aberdeennj.org."

Aberdeen Police ask that the public call their direct line, 732-566-2054, on this case in order to expedite their response time.

Aberdeen Police called the arrest "outstanding police work."