An 8-year-old was kidnapped in Texas in May 2019. The case soon became a horrific tale after the initial search for the 8-year-old Salem failed. However, the community and the police came together to find the girl within a few hours of her kidnapping.

The kidnapper had grabbed the 8-year-old girl while she was walking with her mother in Fort Worth’s 6th Avenue area at 6:38 p.m. According to a surveillance camera video, the mother was knocked down while the accused drove away in his car.

The accused was identified as a 51-year-old Michael Webb. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Erin Nealy Cox announced that he was sentenced to life in federal prison.

The attorney noted, “The defendant stole this victim’s innocence. She knows that there is evil in this world. Evil has a face, and that face is Michael Webb’s.” She called him a dangerous predator who belonged behind bars. During the FBI investigation, the accused admitted to kidnapping and threatening the child.

He hid her in a laundry basket when the police arrived to search, and could not find her. Later on, friends, volunteers, and law enforcement canvassed the city of Fort Worth and gave a tip to 911 after spotting Webb’s vehicle. The bodycam video showed the police at the hotel room banging on the door.

They got the kidnapper and found the girl in the laundry basket. One of the officers announced, “We got her, we got her! He’s in custody; we have her.” After the girl was found, the parents thanked the police and the Fort Worth community. They said, “We feel we owe a debt that can never be repaid. Salem has been surrounded by family and friends ever since she returned.”

 

They noted, “Things will never be the way they were, but they will get better.” However, they were happy that their daughter was back. When the search for Salem was going on, a local church pastor, Jeff King, took it upon himself to help the family. He and another member of the church went to look for the vehicle that matched Webb’s car.

They were able to spot the car in a hotel parking lot and notified the police. Salem’s parents appreciated his contribution: “To Jeff King, a man we haven’t seen in 15 years, your name will forever be etched in our hearts.”

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.