A Long Island, N.Y., mom whose 14-year-old daughter was being held captive by immigrant smugglers received an anguished call from the girl Tuesday, the New York Post reported Thursday.
Dania Lopez, who immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras 10 years ago, saved up her earnings as a housekeeper and paid so-called coyotes -- people who work as human traffickers -- $5,000 to bring Eloisa Lopez to the country nearly a month ago, the girl's sister said.
But 10 days later Dania Lopez was told by kidnappers that they would kill her daughter unless a ransom of $7,000 was paid.
Eloisa managed to take a cell phone from her captors and call her mom, but she had no clear idea where she was being held.
"Mom, save me! Please help! They are going to kill me," she said, during the call.
The girl said she thought she might be in Houston, Tex.
A law enforcement source said Wednesday that "authorities are investigating a claim that may have implications of human trafficking."
Federal authorities later took over the case and sent Department of Homeland Security agents Wednesday to the Lopez family's home in Woodbury, N.J.
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