Child allegedly abducted from Columbus rescued in Nebraska after 70-mile pursuit

BROEKN BOW, NEBRASKA (WCMH) – A three-year-old girl from Columbus was rescued by Nebraska State Troopers after a suspect led authorities on a 70-mile high-speed chase in central Nebraska.

According to the Nebraska State Patrol, troopers received a tip from the Columbus Division of Police that a suspect may be traveling in Nebraska, and on Saturday a GMC Sierra was located along Interstate 80 near Overton, Nebraska. The driver, Diego Revilla-Gonzalez, of Columbus, allegedly refused to yield during a traffic stop and attempted to flee.

A pursuit took place with the suspect reaching speeds of approximately 100 MPH on the highway. Revilla-Gonzalez was weaving in and out of traffic and on the shoulder of the highway, causing troopers to discontinue the pursuit out of concern for the child and other motorists.

Dawson County 911 dispatch then received a report of the suspect driving northbound on Cozad Road and into Custer County. Troopers were able to deploy stop sticks on Highway 40 near Callaway, Nebraska, but the driver did not stop, and a pursuit resumed.

Another attempt at stopping the vehicle via stop sticks was attempted near Highway 40 and Highway 47, but Revilla-Gonzalez allegedly drove off the road and toward a trooper. The trooper was able to avoid being struck by the vehicle, but Revilla-Gonzalez continued northbound on Highway 47 before turning west on Highway 92 near Arnold, Nebraska.

The driver again veered off the road, through a fence and into a field, where the vehicle finally became disabled. Troopers arrested Revilla-Gonzalez without further incident

The girl was safely recovered from the backset of the pickup truck. She was medically cleared and placed in protective care in Nebraska pending reunification with her mother.

After a pursuit that covered approximately 70 miles, Revilla-Gonzalez was arrested and charged with flight to avoid arrest, willful reckless driving, child abuse, attempted assault of an officer, and multiple traffic violations. He is being held in Custer County Jail and will face charges locally before being extradited back to Columbus.

According to the Custer County Sheriff's Office, based on his outstanding warrant in Columbus, and due to a 48-hour holding period protocol, a judge issued Revilla-Gonzalez a $500,000 bond Monday afternoon. However, due to the holiday, his next possible court date is Nov. 18.

Revilla-Gonzales, 27, currently faces a violation of protection order charge out of Franklin County Municipal court after an arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 8. He has previously faced local charges of violation of a protection order, domestic violence, and menacing in 2023, as well as domestic violence, assault, and endangering children in 2021. Those charges were all dismissed.