HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A mother stepped inside a gas station for just a moment. When she came back out, her car — and her three young daughters — were gone.
The carjacking happened in the early hours of June 5, around 1 a.m., at a gas station on Aldine Mail Route near Hard Toll Road. Her girls, ages 1, 3, and 10, had been left in the vehicle.
For responding deputies, finding those children fast was everything.
Mom Used Her Daughter’s Phone to Fight Back
The mother had one thing working in her favor — her 10-year-old daughter had her cell phone with her.
She used it to track the vehicle in real time and fed that information directly to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The suspect, however, appeared to catch on. At some point during the drive, he spotted the phone and threw it out the window, cutting off the signal entirely.
But it was too late for him.
All Three Girls Found Safe
Before ditching the phone, the suspect stopped briefly and let the 10-year-old out of the car. She was found walking alone along Aldine Bender Road.
Her two younger sisters were still inside.
Officers with the Humble Police Department located the vehicle near the intersection of North Park and I-59 — roughly 14 miles from the gas station. The suspect initially refused to stop, but eventually pulled over.
22-year-old Xavion Starks was taken into custody. Both younger girls were found in the car, unharmed.
The 10-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital for minor injuries and is expected to recover fully.
Charges He Now Faces
Starks is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. The kidnapping charges each carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.
He is currently booked in the Harris County Jail.
What do you think about how this mother handled the situation? Share your thoughts in the comments.
