BOSTON -- A 5-year-old girl who was kidnapped for 37 days flew to her hometown Friday, one day after authorities found her living in a trailer in Florida with her alleged abductor.
The child, Nicole Ravesi of Milford, Mass., appeared to be in good condition when she arrived at Logan International Airport accompanied by her parents. Her mother, Debra Ravesi, said Nicole believes she was on vacation with her babysitter.
Authorities found the child living with the suspect, Kenneth Cole, 24, of Holliston, Mass., in a trailer at a fishing camp on the Florida panhandle after the camp's owner recognized Cole from a local news report. The kidnapping also was featured on 'America's Most Wanted,' which authorities largely credited for her recovery.
Cole was being held in a medium security federal facility in Tallahassee. Officials said he would likely be returned to Massachusetts to face federal kidnapping charges.
Frank Ravesi, speaking at a news conference at the airport moments after landing with his daughter, said he was more suspicious of people following the ordeal.
'We probably wouldn't let anyone get as close to our family as we did before,' he said.
An FBI spokesman said an initial examination indicated the girl was not physically harmed.
Debra Ravesi said her daughter simply 'thinks she was on vacation with a friend.'
Frank Ravesi confirmed that officials with the state Department of Social Services accompanied the family to Florida to retrieve the girl Thursday night.
Media reports had said the department was preparing to cite the family for negligence after they allowed a close relationship to develop between Cole and Nicole when the girl was kidnapped.
The department could not be reached for immediate comment.
Cole was once employed as a school bus driver with Debra Ravesi. Letters found in his room several days after the April 3 abduction indicated he had become obsessed with the girl and wanted to kidnap her because the Ravesi family was planning to move, police said.
Police said they believe Cole kidnapped the girl by luring her into his mother's car at a Milford parking lot. The car was later found in a Providence train station.
In late February, the Ravesi family had obtained a restraining order against Cole, claiming he had shown inordinate affection toward the girl. The order had expired and was never renewed.
Cole apparently disguised Nicole as a boy and had her call him 'dad' during their travels.
