37-year-old thought she wouldn't survive abduction—until a stranger's simple move made the attacker run
Trigger warning: This story contains themes of violence, rape and kidnapping that some readers may find distressing.
In the face of danger, where it’s a now-or-never moment, every timely action makes a difference. A 37-year-old mom named Zayra Mendoza feared the worst when a young man attempted to kidnap her, ABC News revealed. In a matter of seconds, when anything could have happened, a stranger and motorist, Ariel Naylor, jumped into action to rescue the woman after she noticed the scenario. The footage from Inside Edition reveals how the incident unfolded. Naylor’s actions are being commended. If it weren’t for her intervention, Mendoza may not have been able to escape. The victim was on a street in Burlington, Massachusetts, at around 8.20 pm when a man was following her.
Identified as 23-year-old Tyler Healey, he caught up to the mom from behind before he could act. The footage captured the man grabbing the victim and putting his hand around her neck. She tried her best to get out of his grip but in vain. "When I looked, the man was right on top of me," Mendoza recalled. As she struggled to get out of his hands, a portion of her top tore. "I thought this man was going to rape me, going to kill me,” the terrified woman said. It all happened in a jiffy but it felt like forever and the mom couldn’t help but think of her 9-year-old daughter and what would happen if this attack was successful.
“I was screaming. I was trying to fight him off. I was running out of strength. He was dragging me by one arm,” she explained. Within a few seconds, as the duo were still on the streets, Naylor passed by in her SUV. Within a moment, she noticed Mendoza appearing uncomfortable with Healey and stopped her vehicle. "I came around that last corner and the girl was being dragged through the parking lot. She had no clothes on the top half, he had ripped that off of her and was dragging her and she was fighting like hell,” Naylor said, per WCVB. As soon as the woman stopped the vehicle, Healey released the mom and fled. The motorist dialed 911 and helped Mendoza get assistance.
Healey appeared in Woburn District Court and was charged with assault with intent to rape, attempt to commit a crime, assault with intent to commit a felony and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or older. His dad identified him from the footage and apologized to the victim. "(I'm) deeply sorry for what the victim is going through. So glad the other woman stopped," said, while adding that the suspect was going through mental health issues that caused him to get violent. Recalling the event, Mendoza is grateful that Naylor stopped and helped. "God sent me an angel,” she remarked.
The good Samaritan, however, noted that she was proud that Mendoza put up a fight. “I did what any person should do when they see somebody in trouble. She knew to get to the light and to get to the side of the road so somebody could help her. She made it possible for me to help her,” she remarked.
If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)
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