NEW PORT RICHEY - A traffic stop by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper in Sumter County led to the discovery of a teenager and her suspected kidnapper in an Indiana Avenue apartment Tuesday evening.

Earlier in the day, the trooper pulled over a woman on Interstate 75 for a traffic violation, said FHP spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins. The woman said she was headed to New Port Richey.

“She’s claiming she’s zooming to this house to get her daughter,” Coggins said.

The trooper notified New Port Richey police in case the woman was telling the truth.

“Our guys said, ‘This could be a wild goose chase, but we need to let you know,’ ” the spokesman said.

A city police officer went to 6338 Indiana Ave. and found Bernardino Hernandez, 21, and 16-year-old Donna Gonzalez.

Hernandez was arrested as a fugitive from justice, stemming from a felony kidnapping warrant out of the Buffalo Police Department in Texas. He was being held without bail at the Land O’ Lakes jail.

Details about the case were sketchy Thursday but Coggins said it didn’t appear the teen was taken in a violent manner.

“Evidently, it wasn’t against her will,” he said.

A flyer posted on missingkids.com for the National Center For Missing & Exploited Children says Donna left on March 31. “They may travel to Florida in a white 1992 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck with license plates 80WJY4,” the flyer said.

It wasn’t clear if that vehicle was found in New Port Richey.

Officials from the Buffalo Police Department couldn’t be reached today.

- Lisa A. Davis

Get Weekly Deals | Write a letter to the editor | Subscribe and get two weeks free | Place an Ad