Florida Girl's Escape Leads Police to Attempted Kidnapper

Bravery of an 11-Year-Old

• 👧 An 11-year-old girl in North Miami displayed incredible bravery when she escaped a man who attempted to abduct her while she was walking home from school.
• 🚗 The suspect, Matthew Duchatelier, allegedly tried to pull the girl into his silver car.
• 🗣️ The victim's screams and struggle, along with the presence of another person, caused the suspect to release her.

Eyewitness Account and Investigation

• 👁️ A neighbor witnessed the attempted kidnapping from their balcony and provided crucial details to responding officers.
• 📝 The eyewitness described the suspect as skinny with tattoos on his hands and wearing a blue hat and white shirt.
• 🚗 Surveillance footage of the silver sedan was secured, aiding investigators in identifying the vehicle and its owner.

Suspect Apprehension and Background

• 📸 The victim positively identified Duchatelier from a photo lineup.
• 🏠 Police apprehended 30-year-old Matthew Duchatelier at his home.
• ⚖️ Duchatelier admitted to the act but stated he didn't know why he did it.

Troubling Criminal History

• 🚨 Records reveal Duchatelier was on probation for a previous incident involving inappropriate touching of a minor.
• 💔 His molestation charge from that prior incident was dropped, and he was convicted of battery.
• ⛓️ He now faces one count of attempted kidnapping of a child under 13 and is being held without bond, with his trial scheduled for March 2026.