Teen charged in kidnapping of 10-year-old girl

Jimmy Bernhard and Alexandra Martellaro | KSDK-TV, St. Louis

O'FALLON, Mo. – A 17-year-old male has been charged after police say he kidnapped a 10-year-old girl Thursday morning.

Police responded to the girl's home after receiving a call about a child kidnapping. During a search of the neighborhood, officers located the suspect and the 10-year-old in a vehicle around 6:10 a.m.

The suspect, John Classen, was taken into custody and the girl was transported to the hospital. Classen was known to the family.

An investigation revealed Classen forced his way into the home by cutting the screen of a window he deliberately left unlocked and hid in the basement for about 4 1/2 hours. Next, police say Classen grabbed the sleeping girl from the couch and carried her down the stairs.

He lost his footing while carrying the girl and fell partially down the stairs, which woke up the parents. They called 911 after finding their daughter missing.

Classen admitted to officers he kidnapped the girl with the intention of being alone with her to tell her about feelings he had developed for her. He also admitted to threatening to harm her and stalking her in the past.

Police records show Classen wrote about his plan to kidnap, rape and kill the young girl.

In one note, Classen wrote, "She will die as she lived, my only friend. A lot of people are going to get hurt and I'm sorry this has to happen."

Classen has been charged with child kidnapping, first-degree burglary and abuse or neglect of a child. He's being held on a $1.5 million bond.