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Suspect in Sjodin kidnapping arrested

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After more than a week of inconclusive searches and investigations, police authorities have made an arrest in the case of a missing female North Dakota student.

Alfonso Rodgriguez, Jr., described as a predatory sex offender, was arrested Monday on charges of kidnapping Dru Sjodin, a 22-year-old University of North Dakota student who has been missing since Nov. 22. Rodgriguez is due for a court appearance this morning, although he was originally scheduled for a Tuesday hearing.

More than 1,300 volunteers have been searching the area near where Sjodin vanished, along with 20 agencies from surrounding states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. In addition, 30 FBI agents have been assisting in the case.

It is believed that the student was abducted while walking to the parking lot after leaving her job at Victoria’s Secret at Columbia Mall in Grand Forks. Sjodin’s boyfriend, Chris Lang, reported that he was talking to her when she was leaving work, and heard her mumble something resembling “Oh my God,” just before the phone cut out. After the phone went dead, he reported that he tried calling her back later, but only heard static and the sound of pressed numbers.

Despite Rodgriguez’s arrest, Sjodin is still missing, and a $140,000 reward has been issued for her return.