Oakland Co. Man Pleads In Kidnapping, Assault Of 9-Year-Old Girl

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — An Oak Park man could spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading no contest in connection with the kidnapping, rape and torture of a 9-year-old girl from Farmington Hills in 2021.

Aaron Deneal McDonald, 44, was charged with kidnapping, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault by strangulation and torture.

He pleaded no contest, which has the same effect as a guilty plea, but does not require the defendant to make admissions that could be used against him in a civil case.

He remains in the Oakland County Jail without a bond. He will be sentenced on May 2. He faces the possibility of being sentenced to life in prison.

McDonald lured the child into his vehicle near the intersection of Eight Mile Road and Grand River Avenue in Farmington Hills at 4:30 p.m. on October 10, 2021 and tried to sexually assault her, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said he then drove her to a house in Detroit where he told the child to remove her clothing, according to prosecutors.

When she refused, he choked her, and then tortured and raped her, according to prosecutors.

The girl escaped the house wearing only a blanket after McDonald fell asleep, according to prosecutors.

Shortly after escaping the house, a local resident found her and called police.

Police arrested McDonald in connection with the incident a few days later, according to prosecutors.

"The young victim in this case suffered unimaginable harm at the hands of the defendant," Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. "No child should have to endure what she went through. Due to her extraordinary bravery and determination, she saved her own life, and she may have saved other children from a similar fate. I commend the collaboration among the various law enforcement agencies involved in this case and the Farmington Hills Police Department for their tireless work in bringing Aaron McDonald to justice for his heinous acts against this young child."