Detective: Loud, profane bird led police to child abduction suspect
This undated photo provided by the Philadelphia Police Department shows 21-year-old Christina Regusters. The trial of Regusters, charged with abducting a kindergartner from her Philadelphia classroom and sexually assaulting her, is being delayed amid jury problems. (AP Photo/Philadelphia Police Department, File)
PHILADELPHIA >> A Philadelphia detective has testified about a foul-mouthed bird that helped lead police to the woman charged with abducting a 5-year-old from school.
The girl said she heard a talking bird during the 19 hours she spent blindfolded in a house where she was sexually assaulted.
She also glimpsed the back of the west Philadelphia house before she was abandoned at a park.
Detective Daniel O’Malley testified Friday that he focused on the bird as he worked the case in January 2013.
He said a tip led him to the house where 19-year-old Christina Regusters lived with a loud macaw who cussed out investigators.
Regusters knew the girl from an after-school program where she worked.
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Her lawyer has argued that police have the wrong suspect. Regusters’ trial resumes next week.
