A 16-year-old girl from Missouri, who had been missing for several months after disappearing from her hometown, was rescued from a closet in the home of a registered s*x offender.
The girl was found alive and terrified, having been held captive by the accused predator, Maximilian Bondrescu, a 44-year-old with a history of prior offenses, including communication with minors for immoral purposes.
Her rescue came about when the girl managed to send a desperate Instagram message to a friend, which ultimately led authorities to the location in Colorado where she was being held.
The girl’s sudden disappearance had left her family in despair as she went silent on her phone and social media. They had no idea of her whereabouts, prompting her father to report her missing on December 6, 2024, after hearing from her school that she had not shown up for class. Friends informed police that she had mentioned wanting to run away to Colorado, but as the weeks passed without any contact, hope began to fade.
On April 15, her dormant Instagram account was activated when she sent a message that would change everything. Investigators traced the IP address of the account to a residence in Fort Collins, Colorado, which led them to Bondrescu.
When police arrived at his home on April 18, Bondrescu denied knowing anything about the girl. However, officers, skeptical of his claims, conducted a search of the premises and discovered the girl, frightened and hiding inside a closet.
Her harrowing account revealed the extent of her captivity. She had first connected with Bondrescu through an app called ‘Boo’ in November 2024. They transitioned their communication to Snapchat, where they planned her escape. Bondrescu allegedly picked her up in Missouri, traveling under the cover of darkness to avoid detection.
Once in Colorado, he reportedly kept her wrapped in a blanket and enforced strict measures to prevent her from being recognized. The girl was forced to dye her hair and wear a mask and sunglasses when she was allowed outside—only a few times during her ordeal.
She was compelled to work at Bondrescu’s snow removal business, FoCo Sno GO, while masked to conceal her identity. Rather than allowing her any means of communication or personal identification, Bondrescu reportedly destroyed her learner’s permit and school ID to keep her powerless and isolated.
However, Bondrescu made a critical error by providing her with an old phone that still had Instagram installed. This phone enabled her to send the pivotal message that led to her rescue.
During questioning, the girl expressed how trapped she felt, revealing that by January or February, she had begged Bondrescu to let her go home, but he claimed he could not afford to let her leave. When asked about the possibility of escaping, she admitted she knew no one in Colorado and felt completely stuck.
The affidavit describes how Bondrescu manipulated and controlled her, ensuring she remained dependent on him. Now facing multiple charges, including second-degree kidnapping, s*xual assault on a child, child abuse, and failing to register correctly as a s*x offender, Bondrescu is being held in the Larimer County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
Authorities are encouraging anyone who may have interacted with Bondrescu’s business to come forward, as they believe the girl may have been forced to work in public while disguising her identity. Investigators are keen to establish the full scope of her captivity and any potential additional victims.
