An incredible story of courage has emerged as a father took matters into his own hands to rescue his kidnapped daughter after enduring 26 harrowing days.

The young girl, Emmarae Gervasi, was miraculously found alive aboard a boat. Her father, Frank Gervasi, recounts these days as a personal ordeal, filled with anxiety and hope.

The chain of events led to the arrest of 65-year-old Francis Buckheit, who now faces serious charges, including kidnapping and rape. The brave 14-year-old was discovered by Frank after he received a crucial tip-off about her whereabouts.

Emmarae’s disappearance in December from East Patchogue, Suffolk County, initiated a frantic search. She vanished while stepping outside to get something from a Jeep parked near her home.

Reflecting on the emotional moment he found her, Frank shared, “I managed to find her before the authorities arrived. After 26 days of agony, holding her again felt like a divine gift. It was indescribable,” he told News 12.

Francis Buckheit, who denies any wrongdoing, faces serious allegations, including facilitating harm to a minor. Buckheit, held in custody without bail, is due for a court appearance soon.

While Emmarae continues her recovery in a medical facility, investigations into the case are well underway.

Frank expressed heartfelt gratitude on social media for the overwhelming community support in the search for his daughter. “Emmarae is safe now, receiving all necessary care,” he reassured.

In his thank you message, Frank highlighted, “I’m immensely grateful for the community’s unwavering assistance — all the shared posts, distributed flyers, and volunteer hours. These collective efforts are vital for bringing missing children back to their families.”

A mysterious tip the day before the rescue was pivotal. “I owe a huge thank you to the anonymous individual who reached out with information regarding Emmarae’s location. Learning she was on a boat in Islip set everything in motion,” Frank shared. “Determined, I followed up and, by sheer persistence, reclaimed my daughter,” he continued.

Frank speculates that Emmarae might have initially accompanied someone familiar but feared the repercussions of returning. A chilling detail of her disappearance is her last sighting. She was captured on CCTV near a parked car, getting into a dark vehicle without a coat or shoes.

Subsequently, surveillance footage saw her knocking on doors at a Bohemia motel, only to vanish again. “My worry was that she was being held captive or worse,” Frank recounted during the most trying days of the search.

“I promised never to give up until she was found,” he declared resolutely.

We extend our hopes for Emmarae’s swift recovery and strength to the family during these challenging times.