A Mexican illegal immigrant, who had previously been deported from the United States five times, has been apprehended after allegedly attempting to kidnap a teenage girl in a parking lot in Alabama on New Year’s Eve, authorities reported.

The suspect, Yordy Centeno Melchor, 31, is now facing charges of second-degree attempted kidnapping and is being held on a $100,000 bond. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin explained the circumstances of the incident: “It seems as if, when he got in the parking lot, he sort of coaxed the girl, who was trying to move a buggy. And she was in that area or near his vehicle. But he coaxed her into coming over to the vehicle. She’s a young girl. She’s 17 years old.”

Meet Yordy Centeno-Melchor, a man who’s in our country illegally. He was just arrested in Alabama after he attempted to kidnap a teen girl.

He has reportedly been previously deported FIVE TIMES pic.twitter.com/Z0R3MV5LWi

— A.B.Jupital🇺🇸🇳🇬 🫶🏽 (@ABJupital) January 7, 2025

The situation escalated when a nearby man noticed the girl “in distress” and intervened, prompting Melchor to flee the scene, Fox reports. The sheriff’s office issued a be-on-the-lookout (BOLO) alert for the suspect, eventually obtaining a search warrant for Melchor’s phone. Investigators found detailed notes in his phone outlining his intentions. “He was going to give her $200, and I won’t get into the intricacies of that, but he was obviously trying to coax her to get in the car,” Franklin said.

Surveillance footage from the Holtville store where the incident occurred helped authorities identify Melchor’s vehicle, capturing its license plate number. Days later, law enforcement stopped a car matching the description and confirmed the plates and the suspect’s identity.

Further investigation revealed that Melchor had been deported from the U.S. five times. Officials are working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding his repeated reentries into the country.

Following his arrest, a local woman recognized Melchor’s mugshot and reported seeing someone who resembled him in the women’s restroom of a Walmart. Authorities are now investigating whether there are additional victims tied to Melchor’s activities.

Melchor is known to have connections in San Antonio, Texas, and Shelby County, Alabama. Sheriff Franklin noted that the suspect frequently traveled between these areas to visit family. If further victims are identified, Melchor could face additional charges.