Woman Abducts 4 Girls At Knifepoint At Local Park: Manteno Police

MANTENO, IL — A 47-year-old woman faces charges Tuesday after allegedly abducting four girls from a Manteno park Monday afternoon, police said.

Police were called to a local park for a report of the possible abduction and release of four juvenile girls. The girls told police a woman with a knife threatened them, coercing them into her car.

The woman, identified as Anita Diaz, then drove the girls to multiple locations in Bourbonnais and Manteno, including her own home, according to police.

Several hours later, Diaz released the girls at another park in Manteno, police said.

The girls—who police said had not been reported as missing—called police. The girls were not harmed and were returned to their parents, police said. Their ages are not known.

Diaz was arrested, and charged with aggravated unlawful restraint. As of Tuesday evening, Diaz remains in custody at the Jerome Combs Detention Center.