Girl, 4, Gets Away From Abductor; Suspect Arrested

A 4-year-old Escondido girl was returned to her parents hours after she had been kidnaped from her home, and a suspect has been arrested, police said Monday.

Passing motorists called police about 10:30 p.m. Sunday after they found the child crying and wandering alone near Iris Lane and Village Road in Escondido, Lt. John Wilson said. Police had been searching for the girl since her parents reported her abduction four hours earlier, Wilson said.

Garry Gene Burr, a 35-year-old unemployed Oceanside resident, was arrested a short distance from where the child was found, Wilson said. He was driving around the area--in a stolen car he allegedly used in the kidnap--searching for the girl who had escaped from the car, Wilson said.

The youngster was playing with her 6-year-old brother behind their home on 2nd Avenue when Burr allegedly drove up and offered her a dollar, Wilson said. Ignoring her older brother’s advice not to take the money, the girl reached out for it and was snatched up and shoved into Burr’s waiting red Pinto, Wilson said.

The girl told police she slipped from Burr’s car when he stopped at a house and went inside for a few minutes, Wilson said. She escaped despite threats not to leave the car, Wilson said.

The girl was hit and molested during her ordeal, but did not require hospitalization, Wilson said.

Burr was booked into the County Jail in Vista on suspicion of kidnaping, child molestation and auto theft. His bail was set at $250,000.