Mikella DeBina: Kidnapped Hawaiian teen, 15, rescued by restaurant staff and diner who spotted her crying
HILO, HAWAII: A 15-year-old girl who was missing was rescued from her suspected kidnapper by two Good Samaritans who saw her crying in a restaurant on Saturday, September 17. Mikella DeBina was found one day after she reportedly convinced the man who allegedly abducted her to drive to Hawaii restaurant Cafe Pesto for food. The suspect has been identified as Duncan Mahi.
The general manager of the restaurant said one of his employees ended up locating the missing girl. Bridge Hartman, who works as a host, was alerted when the suspect acted uncomfortably at the front of the restaurant alongside Mikella. Hartman noticed Mikella crying and quickly jumped into action. He grabbed her and yelled at everyone in the restaurant to chase and nab the abductor.
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A woman, identified as Kori Takaki, was having her lunch when she realized something was wrong and ran to help. "It all just happened so fast, where he was bringing her in, and he said, 'This is her. This is her.' And I was like, oh my gosh," Takaki told KHON. Mikella had been recovered by the time Takaki rushed over, and Mahi managed to flee in his car. A county-wide manhunt was later launched.
"Kori Takaki, she's our hero as well as another young man that ripped her away from her abductor," Mikella's mother Cher Angelel said. Takaki accompanied Mikella in the back room of the cafe as police began to search for her alleged abductor. "She seemed really scared," Takaki said. "She was shaking. But she seemed I mean, as good as I could imagine."
Mikella was taken to Hilo Medical Center by cops, who reunited her with her family. Angelel announced to a crowd of people who were assisting with the search that her daughter had been found safe. "We saw her on Facetime. She smiled and waved. She's okay!" Angelel said. Duncan Mahi was arrested soon after, The Sun reported. Meanwhile, Hartman wrote on Facebook, "I’m just happy she’s home safe."
Mikella was allegedly abducted at knifepoint on Friday, September 16, while she was with her boyfriend at the beach in Anaehoomalu Bay. Mikella's aunt Laurene Debina told Hawaii News Now that the suspect approached them while they were together, made Mikella tie up her boyfriend, and then abducted her. “He had my niece tie up her boyfriend, blind fold him and then took her,” said Laurene said, adding that cops detected a signal from the girl's phone near the Kona airport about 20 miles away. They also found a bag nearby, with her dress inside. Mahi is now in custody and his charges are pending.