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Victor Pena, Charged In Woman's Kidnapping, Due In Court

BOSTON (CBS) - Victor Pena, the man charged with kidnapping Olivia Ambrose in Boston last weekend, will make his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.

Victor Pena
Victor Pena arrives at his kidnapping arraignment on January 23, 2019. (Image Credit: Beth Germano/WBZ-TV)

Pena, 38, was arrested at his apartment in Charlestown where Ambrose was found with him Tuesday afternoon. She was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and reunited with her family. She's said to be in good health.

Ambrose, 23, was the target of a massive search after she was last seen by her sister and friends leaving Hennessy's bar on Union Street near Quincy Market around 11 p.m. Saturday.

olivia ambrose
Olivia Ambrose. (Photo credit: Boston Police)

Boston Police Commission William Gross said Pena was seen on surveillance images from Congress Street with his arm around her a short time later.

"It's obvious from the video surveillance that she did not go along willingly," Gross said.

Surveillance cameras would last spot Pena and Ambrose near the Bunker Hill Housing Complex, not far from where detectives pinged Ambrose's phone. They were found in Pena's apartment there late Tuesday afternoon.

victor pena
Victor Pena seen on surveillance video the night of the kidnapping. (Photo credit: Boston Police)

Pena will be arraigned in Charlestown District Court Wednesday.

Police said they still don't have a motive for the kidnapping and have not said if Pena threatened Ambrose.

Pena has a criminal record, including a recent arrest in Rhode Island. He has had several restraining orders filed against him as well.

He was arrested at Twin River Casino in 2018 on charges of casino gambling cheating, obtaining money under false pretense.

victor pena risp booking
Victor Pena in a mug shot from July 28, 2018. (Photo credit: Lincoln, RI Police)

Detectives identified and cleared a second man who was seen on surveillance video from Congress Street near Pena and the victim. He turned himself in to detectives and is considered a witness.

"I'm not trying to be evasive, but I am trying to protect the integrity of this investigation," Gross said.

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