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Lincoln man accused of kidnapping, raping 8-year-old girl

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man described by his father as troubled is accused of kidnapping a sleeping 8-year-old girl from her home and raping her.

Police arrested 20-year-old Cody Riddle early Friday. Police spokeswoman Katie Flood says investigators suspect Riddle went into an open garage late Wednesday to steal something and then went into the house and saw the girl. She told officers she woke up inside another garage with her hands bound and her mouth taped over. She says the man raped her and then freed her after telling her he'd kill her and her family if she talked.

She got home around 4 a.m. Thursday and told her parents.

Riddle's father, Andy Riddle, told reporters that his son has mental health issues and was a state ward for much of his life.

It's unclear whether Cody Riddle has a lawyer who could be contacted to comment on his behalf. Online court records don't yet list the case.

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