Police confirmed on Saturday afternoon that after nearly 20 hours of searching by ground and air, missing teen Mikella Debina was found in good health, according to Hawaii News Now.
The 15-year-old's discovery was all thanks to some quick-thinking strangers who only knew the girl from an AMBER alert. The said alert was issued on Friday night for Debina after being reported abducted in Anaehoomalu Bay near Waikoloa Beach Drive at about 1:30 p.m.
Witnesses and family members revealed that the suspect and kidnapped teen went to Cafe Pesto in Downtown Hilo on Saturday morning. Restaurant host Bridge Hartman knew something was wrong with the pair, saying that something was off with them, and even if it was not her, his brain was telling him the need to get her.
Hartman yells out that is the AMBER Alert girl
Hartman said suspect Duncan Mahi and the teen walked up to the host stand twice for a table in the restaurant. Hartman noticed the pair began to argue when they walked away. Hartman said he realized then that they started tussling. Hartman was surprised by what was happening, saying it was not connecting.
He then figured out that it was her, yelling, "that is the girl, that is the AMBER Alert girl." Hartman said the suspect let go of the kidnapped teen for a second, allowing him to rush in.
Hartman said she got away from him just for a brief moment, and he was able to grab her in time. He then rushed her into the back of their restaurant. Artist Dragonfly, who is well known in Hilo, was out front at the time, and he heard a girl screaming all of a sudden. She was asking for help to leave her alone.
According to Hartman, the suspect attempted to convince everyone that Debina was his daughter. Kori Takaki and her mother were eating at Cafe Pesto when the incident occurred. Takaki said that when she looked at her, it looked like a man and a woman fighting. She found it strange that the girl was wearing men's clothing, and she did not look like she was wearing her own clothes, according to WBRC.
Teen scared and shaken up by kidnapping incident
Witnesses said the teen was scared and shaken up but not hurt. Hartman recalled that Debina said, "He kidnapped me, he kidnapped me." She then said "Thank you" after her rescue.
Takaki stayed with the teen until cops arrived and helped her get in contact with her mother. She said that the real hero here was the Cafe Pesto host. She added that she knows this is a mother's worst nightmare.
Hartman is relieved that he acted on instincts, saying that if you see something, just do something. Takaki added that she thinks the most important thing they can do is prepare their kids to know they must be safe and aware of their surroundings.
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