Kidnapped teen returns safely

An Amber Alert issued just after midnight Sunday was canceled when the victim drove to safety and called authorities.

By CHAO XIONG, Star Tribune

Last update: March 8, 2009 - 9:23 PM

An Amber Alert issued just after midnight Sunday was canceled when the victim drove to safety and called authorities.

A 17-year-old girl from Elbow Lake, in Grant County in west-central Minnesota, was kidnapped at gunpoint by her stepfather about 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Fergus Falls, according to Fergus Falls police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The girl has a restraining order against her stepfather, David R. Sabby, 46, of Elbow Lake.

She and her stepbrother, who is not Sabby's biological son, were going to see a movie at the West Ridge Mall. Sabby approached them in the parking lot, drew a gun, bound the stepbrother with duct tape and left him in the car that he and the girl had arrived in, said Fergus Falls Police Chief Tim Brennan. Then Sabby fled with the girl outside of the city limits.

The stepbrother freed himself after about 30 minutes of struggling and called police. An Amber Alert was issued about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. It was canceled about 1:15 a.m.

Brennan said Sabby released the girl and allowed her to drive away in his vehicle. She drove to Fergus Falls and called police from a gas station.

Meanwhile, Sabby approached a home near Swan Lake in Otter Tail County looking for a phone. The homeowner called the sheriff's office about "a party at his door," Brennan said.

Authorities found Sabby at the home and arrested him.

The motive in the kidnapping is unknown, Brennan said, adding that Sabby is not cooperating with authorities.

Authorities released no details about what may have happened in the hours that the girl was missing.

"Physically, she's fine," Brennan said.

Chao Xiong • 612-673-4391