A woman narrowly avoided a horrifying incident in the early hours of Sunday when she was allegedly abducted while waiting for an Uber outside an apartment complex on Tangle Wild Street. Luis Leon Quesada, 57, has been charged by authorities with kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, recounted the chilling encounter. She had just left a friend’s apartment around 5 a.m. when Quesada approached her, offering a ride. Despite her refusal, she claims he forced her into his vehicle.
The woman’s quick thinking and the help of a friend were instrumental in her escape. She described being shoved into the passenger seat and attempting to escape as Quesada moved to the driver’s side. “I tried to run, but he chased me,” she said.
Once inside the van, the situation took a turn for the worse. She remembered being overpowered and sexually assaulted. Quesada allegedly told her he planned to take her to a hotel, assuring her he would keep her safe and return her home later.
Recognizing that resistance was futile, she began to strategize. She hid her phone in a gym bag and discreetly texted a friend, sharing her location and begging for help.
Her friend contacted Zed Anjar, who immediately sprang into action. “We rushed to her location,” Anjar said. “We communicated through text, keeping her safe while tracking her.”
The woman managed to take a photo of Quesada’s phone, which was crucial in identifying the vehicle. Anjar found them and blocked Quesada’s van with his car. “He crashed into me, but I wouldn’t let him escape,” Anjar recounted.
In a tense standoff on Westheimer, the woman unlocked the vehicle door and jumped into Anjar’s car, finally reaching safety. Anjar continued chasing Quesada, who returned to the apartment complex.
The situation intensified when Quesada allegedly pulled out a knife, and an accomplice appeared with a gun. The accomplice fled, but police later arrested Quesada at his apartment.
Quesada is currently being held in Harris County Jail on a $145,000 bond, facing charges of kidnapping and aggravated assault. Although not charged with sexual assault, he is due in court tomorrow.
The victim hopes that by sharing her story, she can alert others to potential dangers. “I just wanted to go home to my kids,” she said, reflecting on the ordeal.