The life-saving app: Woman who was kidnapped from a Boston bar was found two days later when her sister used 'Find my iPhone' to help track her down
- Olivia Ambrose, 23, was found after having been kidnapped from a Boston bar after her sister used the 'Find my iPhone' app to track her down
- Ambrose's phone was located at the corner where her alleged captor, Victor M. Pena, 38, lives in Charleston, Massachusetts late on Saturday/early on Sunday
- Two days later after police canvassed the area others living in Pena's building pointed authorities to his apartment, where Ambrose was freed on Tuesday
- Pena was arrested on the spot and arraigned on a kidnapping charge on Wednesday in Charlestown District Court, where he may face additional charges
- He's being held for 20-day competency evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital
- The building where he's lived for the past 10 years is working to evict him
A tracking feature on a smartphone helped lead to the rescue of a woman who had allegedly been kidnapped and held against her will for two and a half days in Boston.
Olivia Ambrose, 23, was found on Tuesday afternoon in an apartment rented by Victor M. Pena, 38, located in the Charleston.
The general location of Ambrose's whereabouts had been revealed when her sister, Franny, used 'Find my iPhone' to show that at least her mobile device was near the intersection of Corey Road and Walford Way, late on Saturday and early on Sunday morning, the Boston Globe reported.
From there, a combination of surveillance camera footage and eye witness accounts led authorities to free the woman from Pena's home in the Bunker Hill development at that exact intersection on Tuesday.
Location services were first mandated to be added to wireless phones in 1996 by the Federal Communications Commission so that 911 operators could locate people making emergency calls from their mobiles phones.
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A tracking feature on a smartphone helped lead to the rescue of Olivia Ambrose, 23 (right), who had allegedly been kidnapped and held against her will for two and a half days in Boston by Victor M. Pena, 38 (left).he general location of Ambrose's whereabouts had been revealed when her sister, Franny, used 'Find my iPhone' to show that at least her mobile device was near the intersection of Corey Road and Walford Way, late on Saturday and early on Sunday morning
Franny tracked her phone to Walford Way at the intersection of Corey Road. Police canvassed the area, and eventually two people who also lived in Pena's building (pictured) pointed authorities to his apartment
'I want to thank you all for all the sharing and work you did to help liv be found,' her sister, Franny wrote on Facebook.
'[A]ll the words of love and encouragement are more than welcome! If you have something you wish to tell Liv, let me know and I can add you to a FB group where I am gathering messages of love for her.'
Ambrose was seen leaving Hennessy's Bar at 25 Union Street in Boston at 11.04pm on Saturday, January 19.
Surveillance footage then recorded her near the State Street Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station at 11.45pm.
About 15 minutes later, another security camera had her pinpointed at Community College MBTA station in Charlestown.
Later that night, Franny tracked her phone to Walford Way at the intersection of Corey Road.
Police canvassed the area, and eventually two people who also lived in Pena's building pointed authorities to his apartment.
Ambrose was finally freed from captivity at around 3pm on Tuesday, when police burst into Pena's apartment, located at the corner where Franny had tracked her phone two days earlier, and found her in tears.
A combination of surveillance camera footage and eye witness accounts led authorities to free Ambrose from Pena's home in the Bunker Hill development on Tuesday
Ambrose was found on Tuesday inside Pena's apartment. He is the same man seen in photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com who led an intoxicated Ambrose out of a subway station
Pena was arrested on the spot and arraigned on a kidnapping charge on Wednesday in Charlestown District Court.
Pena was led into the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles, and wearing a white jumpsuit. A court psychologist who examined Pena said he acted in a 'bizarre' manner during their conversation, including sucking his thumb and praying for forgiveness.
Authorities say he may face additional charges as the case progresses.
A not-guilty plea was entered on behalf of the man with a history of mental health issues, who has also been known to have a track record of menacing behavior toward women.
Pena is currently being held at Bridgewater State Hospital for a 20-day competency evaluation, and the Bunker Hill development where he's lived for the past 10 years is working to evict him from the property.
A court psychologist who examined Pena said he acted in a 'bizarre' manner during their conversation, including sucking his thumb and praying for forgiveness
Pena was led into the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles, and wearing a white jumpsuit. Authorities say he may face additional charges as the case progresses
Ambrose's family had launched an aggressive social media campaign after her disappearance. Franny asked people who had shared posts and commented on things to delete what had been shared, 'just so when Liv decides to return to FB she does not have to be consistently met with reminders'
Pena was 'appropriately screened' with a criminal background check at the time that he moved in, having been given homeless priority as he was coming from staying in a shelter, Boston Housing Authority administrator Bill McGonalge said.
While restraining orders had been filed against Pena, none had resulted in criminal charges, so housing officials were not made aware of them.
In 2013, Pena was arrested for violating a restraining order, but that was dropped, records show.
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Ambrose's family had launched an aggressive social media campaign after her disappearance. Franny asked people who had shared posts and commented on things to delete what had been shared, 'just so when Liv decides to return to FB she does not have to be consistently met with reminders.'
It remains unclear how Pena was able to hold Ambrose against her will from late Saturday night to Tuesday afternoon, but a police incident report showed Pena had installed his own lock on the apartment door, in addition to those provided by the building. Such an addition is a violation of the terms of his housing.
A public defender assigned to Pena's case could not immediately be reached for comment.
A public defender assigned to Pena's case could not immediately be reached for comment
