“I didn’t kidnap Natalia.” These were the first words of Asen Simeonov after he was detained nearly a month after disappearing with 11-year-old Natalia from her home.
Simeonov, 40, was captured late Wednesday night in the Shumen village of Ovcharovo after a 24-day search operation. He was escorted under heavy police security from Shumen to the Fourth Regional Police Department in Varna.
The girl and her mother’s former partner were found near a grocery store in Ovcharovo after police teams had carried out surveillance operations in the area. Natalia was frightened when she was found but told authorities she was happy. Her family later said she appeared to be in good condition.
The search operation involved police officers from Shumen and Varna, Border Police units, the Gendarmerie, tracking dogs and volunteers. In recent days, investigators had focused mainly on the Shumen region after security camera footage showed possible sightings of the two wanted persons there.
Shumen police director Senior Commissioner Georgi Gendov thanked all teams involved in the operation and said the cooperation between different units was crucial for the successful outcome.
