Olivia Ambrose's Accused Kidnapper To Head Back To Court

BOSTON — Victor Pena, the man who has been charged with kidnapping Olivia Ambrose - a story that captivated many and made headlines across the nation - was scheduled to return to court Monday, Feb. 11. But that was cancelled, and he's now set to appear in court March 1

Pena, 38, of Charlestown, was given an initial mental health evaluation before his court appearance at the request of his attorney Jan. 23. Following that evaluation, the judge ordered Pena held without bail and sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a 20-day mental competency evaluation.

When Ambrose,23 went missing in January it set off a three-day search that ended when she was found alive in Pena's Charlestown apartment. She told police she was being held against her will and that Pena had taken her cell phone from her. She was released from a hospital and has been staying with her family.

A court-appointed mental health clinician, Dr. Jodie Shapiro, said that when she talked to Pena, he acted bizarrely and fell to his knees several times, sucked his thumb and prayed loudly for forgiveness and appeared to be hearing voices.

"His behavior appears to be somewhat psychotic, but also bizarre," Shapiro said. "Some symptoms are so bizarre to suggest exaggeration."

Authorities said Charlie Card information and images from security footage helped identify Pena.

The MBTA requires anyone who participates in a Reduced Fare Program, or to provide contact information and other personal information, according to the privacy policy on its website. The MBTA also collects personally identifiable information when someone purchases monthly passes, express bus passes, commuter rail multi-ride passes, visitor passes or uses a credit card to fill or buy fares. According to the privacy policy the MBTA, in cases involving threat of imminent harm, they may release information to prevent or mitigate the threat.

Anyone who registers a Smart Card to autoload or make electronic payments, utilize features like the loss protection watch will also have to supply personal info.

And each time a rider uses his or her Electronic Fare Media, the MBTA system collects information about the location of use. Except in the case of a Managed Account, this "location of use" information is not "linked" by the system to a particular user, or personally identify them.

It's not clear whether Pena was a reduced fare program user or used credit card in connection to his Charlie Card, or if authorities were able to time sightings of him entering and exiting the T with use of a particular fare use.

Catch up here:

• Olivia Ambrose Details: Accused Kidnapper Gets Mental Evaluation
• Olivia Ambrose Found: Charlestown Man Charged With Kidnapping
• What Olivia Ambrose's Fateful Trip Looked Like
• Missing Woman, 23, Last Seen Leaving Boston Bar: Police, Family
• No Uber Human-Trafficking Ring: Cambridge Police
• Olivia Ambrose's Sister Thanks Everyone For Their Help
• Man Accused Of Kidnapping Olivia Ambrose To Get Evicted

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Photo By Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff