2 charged in girl's kidnapping, rape

Miami police: Juan Jimenez, Nicole Jimenez arrested in New Orleans

MIAMI ā€“ A husband and wife accused of kidnapping, then raping an 11-year-old special needs girl have been arrested, Miami police said Friday.

Police on Wednesday arrested Juan and Nicole Jimenez in New Orleans, where investigators say the couple was hiding. Juan Jimenez, 38, is charged with sexual battery on a minor and kidnapping. Nicole Jimenez, 26, is charged with kidnapping.

"I know for 24 days, we've been praying," said Harriet Wilson Greene, the girl's pastor. "Both should get a lot of time."

"The crime against a child is the worst, but a crime against a child with special needs is something that we have to take very seriously," said Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado.

According to police, the couple abducted the girl near Northwest 15th Avenue and 50th Street on June 6 while walking home from school. A camera at a home along Northwest 15th Avenue captured video of a grey sport utility vehicle that police said they used.

The girl returned home about four hours later -- bruised and scared. She told police the man lured her into a light-blue sport utility vehicle that a woman was driving, then drove her far away to a house she described as junky. The man raped her, then brought her back to the neighborhood.

"It was based on her recollection and memory that we were able to sketch out," said Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa. "We were working day and night to try to figure out who these two individuals were and we were able to get a break and we were able to make the arrest."

The victim's mother, Aurianna McNear, spoke Friday night to Local 10's Baron James and chose to reveal her identity to put a face of courage, she said, at the hands of the alleged pedophiles.

McNear now prepares her daughter to go back to school, a child she describes as very resilient, but still recovering with the help of counseling and the love of her family.

The child's parents plan to be in court when the child's accused pedophiles are brought back to Miami and brought to justice.

"They are evil. They have sickening minds," said McNear. "They have disgusting souls."

For McNear, the arrests made by police is bittersweet.

"I have a lot of mixed emotions," McNear said. "I'm happy they got caught, but I'll be happier when they are sentenced."

The girl provided police with information to make the below sketches (right pictures).