Miguel Rodriguez Biography

Miguel Rodriguez is a Springfield man accused of abducting an 11-year-old girl, Charlotte Moccia, while she was walking home from school on Wednesday. An amber alert was issued in Sturbridge around 8:00 Wednesday night that led to his arrest.

Charlotte Moccia Kidnapping

On Wednesday Rodriguez abducted Charlotte Moccia while on her way from school. Moccia is a student at Hampden Charter School of Science in Chicopee and was reportedly grabbed by a stranger after she had gotten off the school bus at about 1:30 p.m. and was walking home.

Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said in a press conference that Charlotte was grabbed by a stranger near the intersection of Amherst and Princeton streets and forced into a car.

“She was screaming, got in definitely unwillingly, and they left the area. Once we realized what we had we knew time was of the essence. This is not the kind of case where we could go home. This was an absolute life and death situation for this little girl.”

Miguel Rodriguez Arrest

Miguel was arrested on Wednesday in the area of Charlton and Auburn. “Troopers flooded the area after a motorist called 911 to report seeing a car matching the description put out by the Amber Alert. The car was located by troopers in a work zone and pulled over.”

A resident spotted the suspect vehicle on Berkshire Avenue, called 911 and followed the car. The resident was able to get an accurate plate number and police then were able to register the number on license plate readers on the Mass Pike.

The information about the car was released on the Amber Alert which lead another driver to spot the car on the Massachusetts Turnpike and call police. Troopers responded and were able to arrest Rodriguez.

“This is, thank God, a rare occurrence and we know how badly this could have ended up. He was evil and he had her for nefarious reasons. It was a matter of finding her quickly and not giving him time.”

He was arraigned in Springfield District Court on Thursday. He was charged with kidnapping, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and witness intimidation. He pleaded not guilty.

Miguel Rodriguez Schizophrenia

According to Miguel’s family, he had a history of schizophrenia and paranoia. His father said that Miguel would stand outside the house and spit at cars or even try and kick them as they drove past.

His father added that Miguel’s sister has had to take out a restraining order against him due to sporadic violent attacks toward her. The police were called, according to the family, when he first started acting out three years ago.

He added that Miguel had been given medication by Baystate Medical Center but he did not take them.

“He said he’s not crazy. He said he didn’t feel nothing. He said he didn’t like the flavor of the medications … We wanted him to take them but we couldn’t make him.”

His father said that after hearing about the Ambert alert in the news the kids told him that the vehicle looked like Miguel’s car.

“We heard about it in the news, when we heard the Amber Alert. The kids came and told me and they say ‘yeah, this looks like Miguel’s car.”

He alleged that they knew Miguel would do something of that nature but not that crazy.

“We heard about it in the news, when we heard the Amber Alert. The kids came and told me and they say ‘yeah, this looks like Miguel’s car. We knew that sooner or later he was going to do something of this nature. But not something this crazy.”