Kayla immediately set off to work. She grabbed the milk, went to a neighbor’s house, knocked on the door until her neighbor answered and called 911. Local police and firefighters arrived soon after, and quickly freed the man from the box.
In the investigation that followed, law enforcement determined that the man, who has not yet been identified, was the victim of a car theft in Hillside, New Jersey.
Two assailants kidnapped the man, while carrying firearms, and forced him to withdraw large sums of cash from several ATMs. After the victim made the pull-ups, the two suspects tied his hands with a rope and threw it into the trunk of the car.
Despite the frightening situation and a night in sub-zero temperatures, the victim had only a few scratches on his head.
Kela was hailed by her neighbors and local law enforcement as a champion. Speaking to reporters at PIX 11 News, Kayla’s mother Mary Banks smiled proudly at her daughter’s actions, saying she saved the man from dying of hypothermia.
Kayla herself denied being a heroine, admitting that she was still affected by the event.
Meanwhile, the police are investigating car theft, combing the neighborhood for clues and trying to find witnesses.
Those with knowledge of the incident are encouraged to contact the Union County Crime Stoppers by phone at 908-654-TIPS or online at uctip.org. Those with information can remain anonymous. A reward of A$10,000 is also being offered for information leading to the arrest of the two suspects.
