Dorchester Man Charged with Kidnapping, Prostituting 3 Teen Girls
A Massachusetts man was arrested in Providence Thursday night after police said he kidnapped three teenage girls to force them into prostitution.
Derek Miranda, 21, of Dorchester, allegedly brought the girls — two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old — from Massachusetts to Rhode Island and held them captive in a third floor apartment at 95 Cumerford St. In Providence.
Authorities said one of the girls escaped the home Thursday evening and told police Miranda was armed.
“When police arrived they met the girl and another male subject who was identified as one of the other girl’s father,’’ Providence Police said in a statement. “The father stated that his 15-year-old daughter was still in the apartment.’’
Police said they entered the apartment after their knocks on the front door went unanswered. Inside, police found two other teen girls and arrested Miranda.
Two of the victims were turned over to the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children, Youth and Families, while the third was returned to her parents.
Miranda now faces three charges of kidnapping and sex trafficking, but police said their investigation was ongoing.
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