Police accuse man of kidnapping, beating Philly girl found abandoned in Marshall

Northern Regional Police accused a man of repeatedly beating a 15-year-old girl that he kidnapped in Philadelphia nearly two months ago and then abandoning her at a Marshall Township fast food restaurant.

Mikhail Martin, 25, of Alma Avenue in Johnstown was charged with felony counts of aggravated assault, kidnapping a minor, unlawful restraint of a minor, false imprisonment of a minor and interference with the custody of children, along with simple assault.

Martin was detained in the Allegheny County Jail in Pittsburgh after bail was denied. A judge determined that he is considered a danger to the victim, according to his arrest papers. A preliminary hearing before District Judge William Wagner is scheduled for May 24.

The girl was found at the Arby’s restaurant on Perry Highway in Marshall shortly after 3 p.m. on May 12, according to authorities.

The girl told police that she lives in East Philadelphia and began dating Martin, whom she knew only as “Anthony,” in January.

The girl said her mother objected to the relationship with Martin, who became possessive and began beating her. He eventually convinced her to leave the area with him, according to a criminal complaint.

The girl’s mother reported her missing to Philadelphia police on March 19, authorities said.

Over the course of several weeks the pair traveled to Lancaster, Plymouth, King of Prussia, Pottstown and Reading before heading west and ending up in the Wexford area, where the girl was abandoned, police said.

The girl told police that she repeatedly asked Martin to return her to her mother, but the request angered Martin, who became increasingly aggressive, the complaint said.

The girl told investigators that during one incident, Martin choked her until she passed out.

The teen also recalled another beating during which Martin “stomped on her head” while he was wearing shoes, the complaint said.

The girl told police that on the day she was found, Martin started punching her when she told him that she planned to leave him, the complaint said.

She said he pulled into the Arby’s lot and forced her to get out of the car and drove off.

Police said the only items the girl had when they found her was a purse that had one set of clothes.

The girl told police that she didn’t know ‘Anthony’s’ last name, but said she believed he is from Johnstown.

The girl’s mother told officers who contacted her that she was “so terrified” about her daughter being with Martin that she hired a private investigator to search for the girl.

The woman provided police with a Social Security number she believed was Martin’s as well as a photograph they used to help identify him, the complaint said.

Police said Martin’s name came up after they ran the Social Security number through the state prison system.

Once police had a name, they were able to check the state driver’s license system to get a photo of Martin along with a description of the vehicles registered to him and the license plate information.

A blue Nissan Altima registered to Martin was captured by license plate readers while he was driving through Marshall and Cranberry, police said.

Investigators said Northern Regional’s dispatch center also got a call from a woman who identified herself as “Daisy” who told them she was the victim’s sister and would pick her up from the police station, the complaint said.

But when police questioned the girl about the woman, the teen responded: “If that’s Daisy, she is not my sister,” the complaint said.

The girl told police that the woman is, in fact, Martin’s former girlfriend.

After being questioned by police, the girl was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh to be checked.

Police said they consulted with an Allegheny County assistant district attorney who determined that charges filed against Martin are appropriate, the complaint said.