Hero dad saves ‘kidnapped’ daughter, 14, from boat after ‘26 days of hell’ in Taken-style hunt as ‘rapist’, 65, arrested
Share:
A HERO dad saved his teen daughter from a Taken-style plot after she was allegedly kidnapped and found alive on a boat after “26 days of hell". Emmarae Gervasi, 14, vanished after entering an unknown car outside her home and a 65-year-old man was later arrested and charged with rape in connection to the terrifying case.
![[Teenager Emmarae Gervasi, 14, was found alive after '26 days of hell']](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/10bb56a4-c1ae-413b-98d6-4f98e45fea0e_327b67.jpg?strip=all&w=725)
Francis Buckheit was also charged with kidnapping and acting in a manner injurious to a child, nearly a month after the teenager vanished from her home in Long Island, New York. The suspect entered a not guilty plea on Monday but her father said he believed Emmarae was a victim of sex trafficking.
![[The teen was found on a large boat off Islip, Long Island in New York]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/arrest-made-case-missing-teen-962141931.jpg?strip=all&w=849)
The family’s terror started after their girl went to pick up items from a Jeep outside their house, in East Patchogue, Suffolk County, but she left without a coat or shoes on. Emmarae was caught on security footage less than 24 hours after her shock disappearance knocking on doors and helplessly wandering around Bohemia, less than 10 miles from where her dad, Frank Gervasi, would later save her.
![[Her father Frank Gervasi revealed he saved his daughter after receiving a tip]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/4906175e-2511-41fd-ad1d-fc002f9ea8f9.jpg?strip=all&w=493)
The brave father revealed he was following up on his own leads and worked closely with the local Suffolk County Police Department. “I fear that she is being held against her will," he said at that time. “I know she is with somebody and they are either convincing her to stay or won’t let her leave or worse she may be dead by now.”.
![[Francis Buckheit, 65, was arrested on charges of rape and kidnapping in connection to Emmarae’s case]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/arrest-made-case-missing-teen-962141106.jpg?strip=all&w=720)
