Henderson teen abducted at home, ransom demanded
A multi-state search was under way late Friday for a Henderson teenager who was being held for ransom after being snatched at her front door, police said.
Melissa Duran disappeared about 7:30 a.m. after answering a knock at the door of her family's house near Warm Springs Road and Valle Verde Drive. Two men took the 17-year-old and sped away in a red sedan. They later called the girl's mother and demanded the ransom, police said.
A family friend said the kidnappers asked for $150,000.
Reached by telephone Friday afternoon, Duran's father declined comment.
"This is a really bad situation right now," Alex Duran said, his voice shaking.
Henderson police issued an Amber Alert for the Green Valley High School senior, who was wearing white pants with black stripes and a yellow blouse when she was taken. Authorities believed her kidnappers might have taken her out of Southern Nevada, possibly into an adjoining state, and have extended the Amber Alert to include Northern Nevada and California.
The kidnappers' car was a two-door, red Saturn with a blue front end and chrome rims, police said.
Several hours after the abduction, news cameras surrounded the Durans' two-story house on the 300 block of Esquina Drive. Henderson police officers stood watch as detectives scurried back and forth, interviewing family members.
When Melissa Duran's boss happened on scene, cameramen rushed her to record her tears.
"I love that girl more than anything," said Shanna Elhard, her manager at Hot Dog on a Stick at the Galleria at Sunset mall.
The teen worked part-time at the food court eatery and on Thursday night had sent a text message to Elhard to let her know she was considering another job selling Halloween costumes, Elhard said.
Anyone who sees Melissa Duran or the car should call 911 immediately, police said.
Anyone with information for detectives can call the Henderson police department at 267-4913.
Review-Journal staff Michael Quine and Tom Ragan contributed to this report.
