Justin Christian

Justin Christian, 29, was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of a 6-year-old Cleveland girl and the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old girl in Elyria.

(Adam Ferrise, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Lorain man authorities called a "serial abductor" was arrested in the kidnapping of a 6-year-old Cleveland girl and the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old Elyria girl, the FBI said.

Justin Christian, 29, was arrested late Friday and is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on charges of kidnapping and rape. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said they will present the case to a county grand jury.

The arrest was announced Monday at a press conference held with federal, state and local law enforcement officials. Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams called Christian "a monster" and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine called Christian a serial abductor.

Christian went into the 10-year-old Elyria girl's home Feb. 24 and unlocked several doors and windows. The next day, he opened the 10-year-old girl's bedroom window, grabbed her legs and tried to pull her outside.

She fought Christian off and ran to her father's bedroom for help, the FBI said.

He surfaced on the FBI's radar a week before he took the 6-year-old Cleveland girl. He was seen walking near the girl's home May 14, 15 and 20. In the early morning hours of May 21, he parked across the street, went into her home and took her as she slept.

Christian ran back across the street to his car and drove to a home in an unknown location. The girl described the bedroom where she was held as having pictures of a deer on the walls. She also heard a woman's voice ask her abductor if the man wanted anything to eat. Anderson said they do not believe that woman knew the abducted girl was inside the home.

He attacked the girl inside the home, according to prosecutors.

He dropped off the girl about 17 hours later at the intersection of Lyric Avenue and West 140th Street. She walked up to a nearby home and rang the doorbell. The residents recognized her from media reports and called police.

FBI agents called the "stranger abductions" extremely rare and had more than 200 agents working on the case since it happened.