Missing Texas Girl Elizabeth Ennen Strangled

Jan. 26, 2011 — -- The body of Texas teen Elizabeth Ennen was found strangled on a Texas roadside this week, and police today said they believe her alleged kidnapper is a family friend who was identified chasing and grabbing the girl on a hotel surveillance tape as she was supposed to be babysitting his children.

Elizabeth, 15, was reported missing by her mother on Jan. 5, the day after babysitting Humberto Maldonado Salinas' two children at the Carriage House Motel in Lubbock, Texas, police said.

Surveillance video from that night shows Elizabeth walking quickly out of Room 113, holding her shoes and attempting to put her coat on, when a man police have identified as Salinas forcefully grabs her and forces her back into the room, according to Lubbock police. Minutes later, shortly after midnight on Jan. 5, the video shows the man grabbing Elizabeth, taking her to the parking lot of the motel, police said. That was the last time she was seen alive.

Salinas later went to the Elizabeth's home to deliver the girl's purse and told her mother, Virginia Ennen, that he had dropped her off earlier that morning. Panicked that she had not seen her daughter, Ennen called police. Salinas was still at the Ennen home when police arrived, and authorities say he offered misleading information, including implicating his own son.

"Humberto Salinas Jr. was present when that initial call was made," Capt. Greg Stevens said at a press conference today. "At that point, the person we believe is responsible for her death began the process of covering up a crime which we believe he had already committed."

Salinas is being held in Lubbock County, currently charged with aggravated kidnapping. Police believe he is responsible for Elizabeth's death. He has a previous criminal record that includes charges of domestic assault, felony theft and violence on a child, according to court records. Police say they are awaiting the complete results of Elizabeth's autopsy and want to continue working their investigation before charging Salinas with anything more.