McAllen police arrested a man from Wetherford, Texas, after he coerced a minor to flee to Mexico with him where they “planned on conceiving a child together.”
Clayton Ryan Phillips, 19, was charged with kidnapping, trafficking of persons, sexual assault and enticing a child away from custodian after being located in Mexico with the minor on Saturday, according to the probable cause affidavit.
On Feb. 13, McAllen police responded to the 3600 block of N. Bicentennial Blvd. in reference to a welfare concern of a 14-year-old girl and made contact with her mother.
The affidavit states that the minor’s mother received a call from Phillips’ mother who told her that he was on his way to McAllen to pick up the minor.
Phillips had purportedly called his mother telling her as much, adding the two were then going to Mexico.
The victim’s mother reached out to her daughter’s school and found out she was not in attendance.
Police learned through their investigation that Phillips was driving a Kia Forte and was previously arrested for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. The charges were related to the same victim.
Because Phillips had an ankle monitor from his previous arrest, police were able to find his last ping, which came from the minor’s residence the morning of Feb. 13.
On Feb. 15, McAllen police interviewed one of the victim’s friends who informed them that she had received a video call from the two the morning they left for Mexico.
“The friend reported that [the victim] stated she and [Phillips] planned on conceiving a child together,” the affidavit said. “The friend reported that [Phillips] could be seen in the video call.”
Police were able to obtain surveillance footage that showed the Kia Forte Phillips was driving when he crossed into Mexico through the Hidalgo Port of Entry.
The two were eventually located in Mexico on Feb. 18 and brought back to the United States.
“McAllen Police Detectives interviewed [the victim] at which time [she] told McAllen Police that on Feb. 13 she and [Phillips] had sexual intercourse in [his] car in a store parking lot in McAllen,” the affidavit stated.
Phillips refused to provide a statement and requested an attorney.
He is being held at the Hidalgo County Adult Detention Center on more than $3.5 million in cash surety bonds.
