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Dad Rescues Kidnapped Daughter Before Police After 26 Days Of Hell

Father’s relentless search for daughter detailed.

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For 26 excruciating days, the family of 14-year-old Emmarae Gervasi lived every parent’s worst nightmare.

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Emmarae’s disappearance profiled.

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Emmarae, from East Patchogue, Suffolk County, disappeared on December 9 after stepping outside her home on Tyrrell Street to retrieve items from a Jeep.

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That was the last time her family saw her—until Friday’s shocking rescue.

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Frank’s journey to finding his daughter was marked by gut-wrenching uncertainty, sleepless nights, and relentless determination.

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“I feared she was being held against her will,” he told reporters. “I knew I couldn’t stop looking.”

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26 days of hell explained.

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The backstory to Emmarae’s disappearance adds a chilling layer to this already horrifying case.

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On the night she vanished, Emmarae was seen getting into a dark-colored vehicle without a coat or shoes.

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The next day, security cameras captured her knocking on doors at a Bohemia motel before she disappeared once again. An easy way to prevent your own scares is with the right safety supplies that everyone should have in their home.

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Her father’s fears escalated after receiving strange phone calls from unknown numbers.

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“I thought it was her,” Frank said. “She said, ‘I love you,’ but the line went dead.”

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As the days turned into weeks, Frank refused to give up, offering a $10,000 reward and enlisting the help of community members.

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Volunteers scoured neighborhoods, distributed flyers, and joined search parties, desperate to bring Emmarae home.

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Even police cadaver dogs and helicopters were deployed in upstate New York, but no solid leads emerged.

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Finally, the anonymous tip broke the case wide open, guiding Frank to the boat where his daughter was being held.

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The shocking discovery explained.

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But their anguish turned to relief when the missing teenager was found alive aboard a boat in Islip, Long Island.

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The extraordinary discovery, made by none other than her own father, Frank Gervasi, has now led to the arrest of a suspect.

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Police have charged 65-year-old Francis Buckheit with kidnapping, r***, and other crimes related to Emmarae’s disappearance.

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According to court records, Buckheit was apprehended on January 3, the same day Emmarae was located, and is being held without bail.

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“I found her myself before the police got there,” Frank told News 12, his voice brimming with emotion. “It was the end of 26 days of hell.”

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Frank’s role in rescue mission exposed.

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Frank, who had been working closely with the Suffolk County Police Department, took matters into his own hands when he received an anonymous tip.

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The tip revealed that Emmarae was being held on the boat, leading Frank to confront the situation directly.

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“I busted into the boat and found my daughter,” Frank said in a Facebook video. “She’s alive. It’s a miracle.”

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Aftermath of rescue mission highlighted.

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Emmarae is now recovering in the hospital, and the investigation into her harrowing ordeal remains ongoing.

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Court records reveal that Buckheit has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of r***, kidnapping, and acting in a manner injurious to a child.

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Frank believes Emmarae was initially with someone she knew but became too frightened to return home.

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“I think she was afraid of the consequences,” he told News 12.

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He suspects she was moved from a trailer park to the boat where she was eventually found.

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Emmarae’s mother, Melissa Dervay, expressed immense relief after the reunion. “When I heard her voice, it was like a weight was lifted,” she told Greater Long Island.

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“I’ve been so tense for four weeks. Now, I feel light. She’s OK,” Melissa said.

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The Suffolk County Police Department has since impounded the boat as evidence as they continue to investigate the case.

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Frank credits his persistence and the support of the community for bringing his daughter home.

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“It’s everyone’s efforts that brought her back,” he said. “Never stop looking. Never stop hoping.”

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