What to Know
- Daniel Santucci was sentenced Friday to life plus 50 years after pleading guilty in August to attempted murder, kidnapping and rape.
- Santucci faced a minimum prison term of 27 years but was given the maximum sentence allowed by law.
A Delaware man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl before throwing her into a pond has been sentenced to life in prison.
Twenty-five-year-old Daniel Santucci was sentenced Friday to life plus 50 years after pleading guilty in August to attempted murder, kidnapping and rape. He faced a minimum prison term of 27 years but was given the maximum sentence allowed by law.
Authorities said the girl was playing outside in April 2017 when a man lured her into a car and drove off.
Two hours later, a motorist spotted the girl, wearing little clothing, at a park about 8 miles away, where police say she had been thrown into a large pond.
Santucci was arrested in Florida two weeks later on a probation violation charge.
"I share the feeling of relief with the community and our officers now that this predator is off the street," New Castle County Police Chief Vaughn Bond Jr., who called the crime "heinous" and "despicable," said after Santucci's arrest.
