Following a harrowing weekend in search of Olivia Ambrose, Boston Police found her alive in the Charlestown Housing apartment of Victor Pena on Tuesday afternoon. The New Jersey native was arrested and charged with kidnapping and scheduled to be arragined on Wednesday at the Charleston Municipal Courthouse. However, Pena’s attorney, Joseph Perullo announced that his client would waive his right to appear in court, as he first must be evaluated by a medical professional to ensure he is mentally fit to stand trial.
“He was hearing voices and sucked his thumb,” the Boston Herald reported Pena testifying. Additionally, the expert witness claimed that his history of smoking marijuana had bearing on his fitness to appear in court.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Pena will be held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital while he undergoes a mental health evaluation. He is scheduled to appear in court again on February 11th with his attorney.
Olivia Ambrose had been missing following a night out with friends at Hennessy’s in Boston on Saturday when security camera footage showed her being led physically away from a bar she had just exited, by a man identifed by Boston Police as Victor Pena.
“It’s obvious from the video surveillance that she did not go along willingly,” Boston Police Commissioner William Gross said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Pena is reported to have been previously arrested in July of last year in Rhode Island for “casino gambling cheating,” and has been the subject of multiple restraining orders.
According to the Boston Herald, Pena last appeared in court for violating a restraining order, but the case was dismissed because Pena had never legally been informed of the order.
Boston police did not report what, if any, motive there may have been for the alleged kidnapping.
