A Midland University student is okay after being abducted from Nebraska and taken across state lines into rural Iowa.
Friends of the unnamed victim spoke with 6 News and say that social media tipped them off that something was wrong. Friend Gavin Hays says, "I woke up in the morning and I went on Snapchat. I saw everything she had posted and I couldn't tell if I could really take it seriously at first."
Friend Maddie Meadows says that the woman said she had been drugged and kidnapped. "I saw her insta-story and snap stories and kind of was like 'Oh my gosh!'"
Shana Trent of the Fremont/Dodge County 911 Center tells 6 News she took the 911 call from one of the woman's concerned friends. "You don't work state to state very often. It reminds me why I do my job."
Trent says she had to call Humboldt County, Iowa authorities to tell them that they had an abduction case after the woman left clues to her whereabouts on social media. Apps like Snapchat have an option where you can allow friends to see where you are on the āSnap-Map,' which is what led authorities to the victim and the suspect Valentin Velez.
Meadows says she's thankful that her friend was able to let them know what was going on. "I think it's really smart. I'm glad that she somehow got a hold of something like that to get to people."
Investigators say the unnamed woman knew the suspect, but didn't release details as to how.
Velez has been charged with Third Degree Kidnapping and could face up to ten years in prison if found guilty.