Abducted 8-year-old Fresno girl found safe and alive

The 8-year-old Fresno girl who was abducted in front of a home Monday night was found safe and alive yesterday, according to published reports.

Elisa Cardenas was recovered yesterday morning after a driver recognized the suspect’s pickup truck and saw Elisa’s head in the window.

The driver cut off the truck, allowing Elisa to escape, police said.

The suspected abductor, 24-year-old Gregorio Gonzalez, of Fresno, was later arrested.

Elisa was checked into a hospital and was in good condition. She was reunited with her mother at a different hospital.

“We beat the odds today, because in many cases we don’t find the child alive, and today we did,” Police Chief Jerry Dyer told reporters, adding that this was “the highlight” of his career.

Cardenas was kidnapped outside of a Fresno home Monday evening while she was playing with a group of friends. Gonzalez matched the description of a man who exposed himself to two other girls minutes before the kidnapping.