The honors and recognition continue for three teen girls who helped prevent an abduction of a 6-year-old girl in July 2024 at a Kent apartment complex.
FBI Seattle’s Violent Crimes Against Children squad recognized the three girls the week of March 17 with certificates from the FBI director for their bravery in preventing the abduction, according to a FBI Seattle video post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Bentley Hendrickson, Esme Munguia and Kylie Love received the certificates from Steve Vienneau, a Seattle FBI supervisory special agent. The girls received the Kent Police Chief’s Award for Citizen Commendation at a Sept. 17, 2024 City Council meeting. 0
“As a result of their keen observation, quick thinking and decisive action, they prevented the abduction of a 6-year-old girl and aided in the conviction of the offender,” Vienneau said as he read a letter he wrote to the FBI director for the certificates. “Their bravery and selflessness bring honor to each of them, to their families and to their community.”
Children had gathered in the parking lot July 16, 2024 of the Meridian Glen Apartments, 11305 SE Kent-Kangley Road, as an ice cream truck arrived. The three girls were in the parking lot.
“They saw something that didn’t look right,” Vienneau said. “They saw a man holding the wrist of their 6-year-old neighbor who appeared frightened and trying to break free. Without hesitation they took action walking toward the man. They challenged him as to whether he was related to the girl.”
Vienneau said the girls, thinking quickly, recorded some of the interaction on video, which they later provided to Kent Police.
“The man said he was related to the girl, but the girl shook her head,” Vienneau said. “They took the girl by the hand and led her away. After getting the girl home safely, they flagged down responding officers and led them to the suspect.”
Hayder Hasan Albu-Mohammed, 40 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to attempted luring on Dec. 16, 2024, according to King County Superior Court documents. Prosecutors initially charged him July 19, 2024 with second-degree attempted kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty Aug. 1, 2024 to the kidnapping charge.
“I attempted to lure a minor under the age of 16 into an area of the parking lot that was obscured from public without consent of the parent and I was unknown to the minor,” Albu-Mohammed wrote in his plea of guilty court documents. “My actions of taking the minor by the hand and later picking her up constituted a substantial step toward the crime of luring.”
King County Superior Court Judge Mark Larrañaga on Dec. 20, 2024 gave Albu-Mohammed credit for 158 days in jail and a 364-day suspended sentence, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He was released Dec. 20, 2024 from the county jail, according to jail records.
The judge ordered 24 months of probation, no contact with the victim, and that Albu-Mohammed get evaluations for substance abuse and alcohol abuse and that he successfully complete programs for substance and alcohol abuse.
The judge also ordered him to have no contact with minors “except under supervision of (a) responsible adult aware of this order, and with permission of CCO [state Department of Corrections community corrections officer] and treatment provider and comply with all conditions required by the judgement and sentence.”
The judge ordered Albu-Mohammed not to live at the Meridian Green Apartments in Kent.
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