Home Australia Major update in kidnapping of girl, 14, who endured ’26 days of hell’ locked in boat before hero dad’s rescue

Major update in kidnapping of girl, 14, who endured ’26 days of hell’ locked in boat before hero dad’s rescue

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Emmarae had been missing since December 9 and disappeared without wearing a coat or shoes

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 14-year-old Long Island girl who was allegedly locked inside a boat before her hero father rescued her.

Bunice Knight, 47, of Copiague, has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, among other alleged crimes, according to court records obtained by news day revealed.

Knight’s arrest comes more than a week after Francis Buckheit, 64, of East Islip, was arrested after allegedly kidnapping 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi.

Buckheit was charged Jan. 6 with first-degree kidnapping and endangering the welfare of a child, among other crimes.

Knight’s arrest was based on the victim’s statements and security videos from neighboring homes.

Both men have pleaded not guilty. Knight’s attorney, Glenn Obedin, said NBC New York “They look forward to rigorously defending this case.”

Danielle Papa, Buckheit’s attorney, said in Suffolk County District Court last week that her client is “emotional… he’s upset… he maintains his innocence.”

Papa added: “There is much more to this story than has been presented in the newspapers at this time, which we are in the process of investigating.”

Emmarae had been missing since December 9 and disappeared without wearing a coat or shoes

Pictured: The ship Buckheit allegedly held Emmarae captive

Pictured: The ship Buckheit allegedly held Emmarae captive

While Buckheit remains behind bars, Knight posted bail that was set at $50,000 cash or $100,000, according to court records, Newsday reported.

It is unclear if Knight and Buckheit know each other.

Knight previously spent five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to narcotics trafficking charges in 2004, according to the news outlet.

Frank Gervasi miraculously rescued his daughter, Emmarae, on January 3 after receiving an anonymous tip.

Emmarae was allegedly held captive on a boat docked at Whitecap Marina in Islip, nearly a month after she mysteriously disappeared from her East Patchogue home on December 9.

Gervasi told DailyMail.com how distressing it was to search for her daughter, who was barefoot, without a jacket and without a cellphone at the time of her disappearance, with no idea whether she was alive or dead.

While police worked on the case, he followed his own leads.

‘I didn’t want to wait for the police because I didn’t want to lose my daughter. I walked into the boat…I kicked in the door…and she was there.

Frank Gervasi, Emmarae's father, took matters into his own hands to find her.

Frank Gervasi, Emmarae’s father, took matters into his own hands to find her.

Emmarae Gervasi, 14, disappeared without a trace on December 9 from her home in East Patchogue on Long Island. She was found Friday on a boat in Islip, Long Island.

Emmarae Gervasi, 14, disappeared without a trace on December 9 from her home in East Patchogue on Long Island. She was found Friday on a boat in Islip, Long Island.

After being found safe, Emmarae is now recovering in hospital and the case remains an active investigation.

After being found safe, Emmarae is now recovering in hospital and the case remains an active investigation.

“The information they gave me was very specific and very precise,” Gervasi told DailyMail.com. ‘They told my daughter He was with very dangerous men who were possibly still on the ship.

The day of the rescue seemed like a scene straight out of Liam Neeson’s action movie Taken. He remembered his daughter asking him: ‘Dad, how did you find me? How did you know I was here?

Although much is still unknown about what exactly happened when Gervasi was reunited with his daughter, he shared thatThere were rumors that they would soon move the ship south.

‘They “He could have easily left the state and no one would have been able to track him across the channel,” he said.

An emotional Gervasi told DailyMail.com that the moment he rescued her was “pure euphoria… joy, happiness” after 26 agonizing days of hell.

‘We had five minutes of clarity before the police showed up. I was able to hug her, kiss her and talk to her, and that’s more or less what it was like.”

In the photo: alleged kidnapper Francis Buckhiet

In the photo: alleged kidnapper Francis Buckhiet

When DailyMail.com contacted Gervasi about Knight’s arrest, he was unavailable at the time of publication, but wrote on his Facebook that “what happens in the dark will come to light, as I have said time and time again.”

More details are expected to be announced once the allegations are revealed.

DailyMail.com has contacted Knight’s lawyer, Glenn Obedin, for comment.

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