Police investigating after 16-year-old girl allegedly kidnapped in the Bronx

Police are investigating the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl in the Bronx, with multiple local reports emerging Tuesday that authorities are looking into the possibility that the event was staged.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) told The Hill on Tuesday evening that officials are still investigating the incident surrounding Karol Sanchez’s disappearance Monday night into Tuesday, and they don’t have a comment at this time.

However, CBS New York reported, citing multiple sources, that Sanchez admitted to staging the incident with four accomplices on late Monday. The report said she confessed moments after being reunited with her family on Tuesday.

A local ABC affiliate also reported that investigators are looking into the possibility that the abduction could have been staged. An official also told The New York Times later on Tuesday that the girl confessed to staging the crime and allegedly described her mother as “overprotective.”

The reports emerged hours after authorities in New York reported the teenager found.

“WE HAVE A VICTORY TODAY !! Karol has been found !!! Thank you to all who have worked very hard to track down the people involved in this case !!!” NYPD Deputy Inspector Robert Gallitelli tweeted Tuesday afternoon.

Gallitelli added in another tweet that Sanchez was found “safe and unharmed” after reports of her alleged kidnapping late Monday.

WE HAVE A VICTORY TODAY !! Karol has been found !!! Thank you to all who have worked very hard to track down the people involved in this case !!! pic.twitter.com/TYD7IlU49N

— NYPD 40th Precinct (@NYPD40Pct) December 17, 2019

**UPDATE** Karol Sanchez has been located in the Bronx, she is safe and unharmed. Great work by the @NYPDnews and all of our federal partners. Thank you to everyone in the community for your assistance. https://t.co/72Ueczvy3V

— NYPD 40th Precinct (@NYPD40Pct) December 17, 2019

Police said that Sanchez had been walking with her mother on a street in the Bronx on Monday night when four men approached them in a beige sedan and “forced” the teenager into the vehicle. Surveillance footage of the incident showed the men appear to push the mother away as they took Sanchez and fled.

The NYPD Crime Stoppers and other officials in the department used social media to ask the public for help tracking down Sanchez and the vehicle. An Amber Alert was also issued in an effort to find the girl.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) joined other New York officials on social media in calling on the public to help find Sanchez.

WANTEDfor a KIDNAPPING in the vicinity of East 156 Street and Eagle Avenue #Southbronx #bronx @NYPD40pct on 12/16/19@ 11:20PM Reward up to $2500Seen this car? Know who They are?☎️Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! #YourCityYourCall pic.twitter.com/h26y6HDNN9

— NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) December 17, 2019

However, after the story went viral and an Amber Alert was issued for teenager, sources told the local CBS station that Sanchez later turned herself into authorities.

“We was at the pole over there, looking at her picture, and we walked up the block, she was crossing the street to to the the cop car, and I was like ‘Yo, that’s her right there,’” one onlooker at the scene told the station.

“She was shaken up. She was bending over, grabbing her knees, and discussing with the police. And that’s when they took her into the parking garage for questioning,” another onlooker said, according to the outlet.

The outlet reported that “family issues” appear to be involved in the incident, which drew widespread attention after it was reported earlier Tuesday.

A local businessman who provided local authorities with surveillance footage of the incident told The New York Times that he has “never seen something like that before.”

“It shocked me, you know. I have kids. I can’t imagine that happening to my kids,” he told the paper.

Footage captured by News 12 the Bronx showed Sanchez reunited with her mother.

MISSING TEEN FOUND SAFE after #NYPD was investigating the kidnapping of 16-year-old Karol Sanchez in the #Bronx. #Video shows the moment Karol was reunited with her mom.

DETAILS: https://t.co/r9N9FvjRgb pic.twitter.com/ed71XjXwAW

— Amanda Bossard (@amandabossard) December 17, 2019

– This story was updated at 7:06 p.m. to reflect new reports surrounding the incident