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| Stolen tortoise leads to arrest of sexual assault suspect | |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Imagine losing your beloved tortoise and your last hope was a man holding her ransom for $1,000. | Imagine losing your beloved tortoise and your last hope was a man holding her ransom for $1,000. |
| Stacey Swayze-Krampota set up posters across her town, raising awareness for her missing 5-year-old African tortoise named Gracie. | Stacey Swayze-Krampota set up posters across her town, raising awareness for her missing 5-year-old African tortoise named Gracie. |
| "I even put 'please' all over them. I just wanted people to know how much we loved her and just wanted them to feel something,” she told KPRC 2. | "I even put 'please' all over them. I just wanted people to know how much we loved her and just wanted them to feel something,” she told KPRC 2. |
| When she finally received an anonymous tip, a man was on the phone, demanding $1,000 for the Gracie’s safe return. | When she finally received an anonymous tip, a man was on the phone, demanding $1,000 for the Gracie’s safe return. |
| Stacey Swayze-Krampota tells reporters she "almost lost hope" in the search for Gracie, her missing tortoise. | Stacey Swayze-Krampota tells reporters she "almost lost hope" in the search for Gracie, her missing tortoise. |
| Ms Swayze-Krampota kept in touch with the strange man, confronting him at his home nearly three weeks later alongside sheriff deputies. | Ms Swayze-Krampota kept in touch with the strange man, confronting him at his home nearly three weeks later alongside sheriff deputies. |
| The officers ran the man’s licenses plates and discovered that he was wanted for two outstanding warrants on aggravated sexual assault against a child. | The officers ran the man’s licenses plates and discovered that he was wanted for two outstanding warrants on aggravated sexual assault against a child. |
| Deputies rushed into the home and arrested 34-year-old Joseph Urbino who left Gracie stuffed in a duffle bag inside a closet. | Deputies rushed into the home and arrested 34-year-old Joseph Urbino who left Gracie stuffed in a duffle bag inside a closet. |
| "She's perking up now. I’m going to take her in just to get checked. She's getting better. I'm just glad to see her,” Ms Swayze-Krampota told the station. | "She's perking up now. I’m going to take her in just to get checked. She's getting better. I'm just glad to see her,” Ms Swayze-Krampota told the station. |
| Fortunately, Brazoria County Investigator recognized how “unique” the case was. | Fortunately, Brazoria County Investigator recognized how “unique” the case was. |
| “This is definitely unique. We got someone off of the street for suspected sexual assault of a child over the theft of a tortoise,” Reuters reported. | “This is definitely unique. We got someone off of the street for suspected sexual assault of a child over the theft of a tortoise,” Reuters reported. |
| Mr Urbino now faces two sexual assault charges and theft charges for holding the tortoise ransom. | Mr Urbino now faces two sexual assault charges and theft charges for holding the tortoise ransom. |