A Colorado man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he pleaded guilty to kidnapping a 10-year-old girl in 2022 . Diego Gettler pleaded guilty on Jan. 9 to second-degree kidnapping for the attack in Thornton and second-degree assault of a peace officer in an unrelated case.
According to prosecutors, Gettler, 30, was dressed all in black and wearing a mask on the morning of Sept. 23, 2022 when he approached the young victim after she was dropped off at school. Prosecutors said he forcibly grabbed the girl and attempted to restrain her in what appeared to be an attempted abduction.
Police said the child bravely fought back and pulled down the mask Gettler was wearing. That startled him and he ran away. The victim ran to the school doors for help and staff quickly responded.
Surveillance footage from the school and surrounding areas captured the moments before, during and after the attack, according to prosecutors. They said the footage showed Gettler’s vehicle, a 2008 Saturn Aura, circling the area before parking nearby. Then he was seen approaching the school, walking toward the girl, and ultimately committing the attack. Prosecutors said the video showed Gettler running away after the victim resisted and stumbling as he ran back to his vehicle…