Christmas is usually filled with joy and laughter, but for one Texas family, the day turned into a nightmare. A 15-year-old girl went missing on Christmas Day after she took her dog for a walk and never came back.

Her parents, worried sick, called authorities. But it was the girl’s father who took matters into his own hands—and his quick thinking changed everything.

He Used His Phone’s Parental Controls to Track Her Down

The father used a parental control feature on his phone to locate his daughter’s device. That led him to a quiet, wooded area just two miles away in nearby Harris County.

There, hidden in a maroon pickup truck, he found his daughter and her dog. Shockingly, she was not alone. A 23-year-old man was in the truck with her—partially undressed, according to officials.

Without hesitating, the father rescued his daughter and got her to safety. Then, he called the police.

Suspect Arrested and Charged with Kidnapping

The man, identified by authorities as Giovanni Rosales Espinoza, was arrested on the spot. Officials say he had threatened the girl with a knife and forced her into the truck. He is now being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond, facing charges of aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child.

Authorities have not shared the names of the girl or her father to protect their privacy.

Sheriff Praises Father and Vows to Keep Families Safe

Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle called the act “horrifying” but praised the father’s bravery and the quick action of law enforcement.

“Christmas is a day meant for joy, but this man chose to shatter that joy by targeting a child,” the sheriff said. “I am incredibly proud of our deputies and detectives who worked tirelessly to make sure this predator is now off our streets.”

He ended with a strong message: “Rest assured, your Sheriff’s Office remains on watch every hour of every day to keep your families safe.”

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