By: Nick Matoney
Action News This Morning Producer (WTAE)
MCKEESPORT, Pa. —
Police found the suspect in the abduction of a 16-year-old girl from Penn Hills hiding in the coal cellar of a home in McKeesport early Thursday morning.
Jermaine Rodgers, 19, was accused of abducting the girl, Marjani Aquil, 16, after forcing his way into a home on Glenbrook Drive in Penn Hills just before 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
An Amber Alert was later issued for the teen.
Late Wednesday night, police learned Rodgers may be at a home on 28th Street in McKeesport.
Upon arrival, they saw Aquil in the living room and were able to pull her to safety.
However, police say Rodgers barricaded himself in the house, leading to a SWAT situation and a search throughout the home.
“He was hidden in the coal cellar,” said Inspector Christopher Kearns of Allegheny County police. “A member of the SWAT team had to go and physically find him in the coal cellar.”
Rodgers was taken into custody.
Also discovered in the home was a person described by Kearns as a missing female from Munhall.
Kearns could not say when that person was reported missing but he did say McKeesport police were looking into whether charges should be filed against any of the other people in the home.
Aquil is the niece of former professional wrestler Kurt Angle.
On Thursday morning Angle posted a message on Facebook, saying in part, “My niece has been found. Just wanted to say thank you to all those who have prayed and have shared posts to help locate her.”
