Erskine kidnapping: Family open up on moment young boy was allegedly chased at a service station and thrown into a car with his two friends by group of men before being dumped at a beach
The family of a child allegedly abducted from a shopping center say the boy has been left traumatized and scared by the horrific incident.
The 12-year-old and two friends, aged 11 and 14, were grabbed and thrown into the back of a car in Erskine, 77km south of Perth, last Wednesday.
The terrified boys were later dumped on a beach south of Mandurah after what one family said was a targeted alleged attack.
“He was so scared when he got home to his mother that his legs were still shaking… and that was a few hours later,” said the 12-year-old boy’s aunt, Bianka Willder. 7News.
“My cousin, he was running for his life and he didn’t want to get caught and he ran and they chased him.”
The family of a child allegedly abducted from a shopping center say the boy has been traumatized by the horrific incident. His aunt, Bianka Willder, is pictured
Three teenagers have been charged after allegedly forcing three younger boys into their car and dumping them on Tims Thicket Beach (pictured)
The boys were having a sleepover Wednesday night when they walked to a nearby service station for snacks.
Police said they were approached in a parking lot by a group of men who accused them of trying to break into their car.
“They ended up chasing the boys… hitting one, throwing one in the car and my son was the last one thrown in the car,” said Stephen Willder, the 12-year-old boy’s stepfather.
The boys were driven 10 miles away to the other side of town and dumped on the remote Tims Thicket Beach, which is only accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles.
One of the boys had a phone and was able to call his family to pick them up.
The 12-year-old has not been able to sleep well since the shocking incident.
βHe’s not himself, he’s so withdrawn and he’s terrified,β Ms Willder said.
‘Don’t take matters into your own hands.’
Three teenagers have been charged with three counts of deprivation of liberty and one count of aggravated assault.
Jak Brian Hefron and Connor Erik Whiting β both aged 19 β were granted bail with a $1,000 personal undertaking at the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.
They have to appear in court again on March 1.
A 17-year-old boy from Halls Head, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in the Perth Children’s Court on Friday.
Bianka Willder (pictured) said her 12-year-old nephew ‘isn’t himself, he’s so withdrawn and he’s terrified’