Alabama man charged with kidnapping of Springfield teenager

An Alabama man is in custody in Springfield. He is accused of kidnapping a 13-year-old girl from a Springfield home in late July.

Springfield police spokesman Ryan Walsh said 31-year-old Paul Areliano was arrested in Front Royal, Virginia, where he was being held on a warrant awaiting extradition to Massachusetts. On Tuesday, Springfield investigators flew to Virginia to bring Areliano back to face kidnapping charges there.

Walsh said the girl remained in the custody of Virginia authorities after Areliano's arrest. He said the girl spends summers in Springfield but also lives in Alabama.

According to Walsh, Springfield police began investigating a missing person report received on July 28 when the girl was reported missing.

A video from the house showed her leaving her house and getting into a car at around 1:40 a.m.

Working with the girl's family, investigators identified Areliano as a suspect. With the help of Massachusetts and Virginia state police, authorities were able to locate his vehicle as it headed south through Virginia.

Virginia State Police stopped the car in New Market, Virginia, and arrested Areliano on a Massachusetts warrant.

Investigators determined that Areliano had driven from his home in Huntsville, Alabama, to Springfield to pick up the girl after they had conversations online.