Man charged with kidnapping after missing woman found alive in Charlestown

BOSTON — A 23-year-old woman last seen Saturday night has been found alive in Charlestown, nearly a mile from where she was out with friends three days prior.

Boston Police arrested 38-year-old Victor Pena after an extensive investigation, leading them to find Olivia Ambrose in the suspect's apartment in Charlestown. According to police, Olivia was standing inside the apartment near the suspect when they entered.

Pena has been charged with kidnapping. Additional charges may follow.

Boston Police released a statement Wednesday before Pena's arraignment saying the second man they were seeking -- seen on surveillance video in front of Olivia before she was kidnapped -- turned himself in and police now consider hima witness in the investigation.

Boston Police Commissioner William Gross credited the public for providing tips to law enforcement during their investigation, to ultimately find the missing woman.

"Great teamwork today. This is what we mean in community policing. The entire village showed up for this one," Gross said during a press conference on Tuesday night.

Before she was found, Olivia was last seen outside Hennessey's Bar in downtown Boston around 11 p.m. Saturday night, January 19. She had been out with her twin sister, Francesca, and some friends after moving to the city recently. She works for Toast, a Boston software company, and had just relocated to Jamaica Plain.

But Olivia, or Liviy, wasn't heard from the next morning and hadn't been seen since.

On Tuesday afternoon, Boston Police said they were searching for a man caught on surveillance footage with Ambrose.

Previous: Boston Police seeking man seen in surveillance with Olivia Ambrose

Surveillance cameras near Bunker Hill Community College picked up two instances where Pena engaged Olivia on Congress Street, including him holding on to her and forcefully directing her onto the Orange Line.

Boston 25 News Security Analyst Dan Linskey said police had located the man seen in surveillance at the same place Olivia was found after he was recognized by law enforcement when his photo was released.

It was just an hour and a half after the photo was released that he was found.

The following timeline was released to accompany surveillance pictures.

•  11:04 PM: Ms. Ambrose is seen leaving a bar located at 25 Union Street (Hennessy's) with a white male who has since been determined to not be involved in her disappearance.

•  11:42 PM: Approximately 40 minutes later, two unknown males are observed inviting Ms. Ambrose to walk with them in the area of Congress Street and State Street. One of the males appears to walk ahead while the second male places his arm around Ms. Ambrose and directs her towards the State Street MBTA Station.

•  12:01 AM: Approximately 20 minutes later, additional video shows Ms. Ambrose being accompanied by that same male, still with his arm around her, exiting the Bunker Hill Community MBTA Station in Charlestown. The other male party is no longer observed in any surveillance video moving forward.

•  12:13 AM: Approximately 10 minutes later, Ms. Ambrose and the unknown male are observed again in the area of Green Street walking together towards Bartlett Street. A short time later, phone records indicate Ms. Ambrose's phone was in the general area of the Bunker Hill Housing Development.

"It is obvious from the surveillance video that she did not go along willingly," Gross said.

Investigators searched fields, school hallways and grounds -- even dumpsters to find Olivia, Gross said.

Tuesday afternoon, detectives arrived at Pena's apartment in Charlestown, near where Olivia's cell phone was last pinged.

"They kept knocking on that door, and eventually, we did not force entry. The suspect opened the door," Gross said.

Police say Olivia was standing near Pena when they found the two. He was arrested. Olivia was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.

Gross said Olivia "appears in good health," but he could not attest to her state of mind.

A man who recorded police taking Pena into custody outside his apartment said he recognized Pena from surveillance photos released to the public earlier in the day.

"I seen his face. I was right up on him. My camera's not that good, but I seen his face," said Dexter White.

Neighbors say Pena has lived in the Bunker Hill housing development for at least five years.

Haileigh Reeder says she keeps her distance.

"He is a weirdo. He’s really strange. He follows young girls around. I’m pretty sure he had another guy staying with him because I have seen him with another guy around," she said.

Sources told Boston 25 News that several law enforcement agencies are familiar with Pena. In June, he was arrested at Twin River casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island, for obtaining money under false pretenses and cheating.

Pena's Facebook page has multiple photos of him dressed in a suit and tie. Part of his self-description reads: "I am a very romantic man, very caring and very hot. I like to have a great time with beautiful young girls 18 to 35 years old."

Meanwhile, the Ambrose family released a statement Tuesday evening, thanking the efforts of the Boston Police department and all others involved in finding Olivia.

"The Ambrose family is so grateful for the monumental efforts of the Boston Police Department and the MBTA and Transit police who have worked tirelessly over the last three days to bring Olivia home. They also want to thank all of the staff at Hennessey's Bar who have been so helpful since Olivia went missing. The Ambrose family is also so appreciative of all the efforts, prayers and good wishes of their friends, family and complete strangers who have helped in the efforts to find Olivia.  And finally, they want to thank Olivia's co-workers at Toast who sprang into action and were instrumental in getting the word out.  The family is overjoyed."

In Olivia's hometown of Wenham, residents were relieved to hear that Olivia had been found.

“She looks like my little sister and knowing she was from Wenham, we were really concerned," said Mary Hooper. "Knowing she’s home or about to be home is such a relief."

“It was awful. You just don’t know these days, you don’t," said John Fallon, owner of Fallon’s Auto Service & Gas Station. “Thank God, thank God she’s found OK. A lot of times, it doesn’t work out like that. Thank God they found her."

Pena is scheduled to be arraigned in Charlestown District Court on Wednesday.

MORE: Friends, family search for missing woman last seen at Boston bar

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