A Collin County grand jury has indicted Enrique Arochi in the kidnapping of Christina Morris and the sexual assault of a child.
Arochi was arrested in December for allegedly kidnapping Morris, who was last seen Aug. 30 walking into a parking garage near The Shops at Legacy in Plano. Parking garage surveillance footage showed a man later identified as Arochi accompanying her into the garage.
His vehicle is later seen driving out of the garage, but there was no sign of Morris. Police arrested Arochi three months later after finding DNA in his car trunk.
According to the grand jury indictment released Tuesday, Arochi is accused of, "intentionally or knowingly abduct[ing] Christina Morris by restricting the movements of said Christina Morris without her consent so as to interfere substantially with her liberty, by moving her from one place to another or confining her, with the intent to prevent her liberation, by secreting or holding her in a place where she was not likely to be found."
The grand jury indictment also alleges that Arochi acted, "with the intent to violate or abuse sexually Christina Morris," and "terrorize Christina Morris."
Morris' family gathered Tuesday outside the Collin County Jail during visitation hour, holding signs that asked for answers in her disappearance.
“It's exhausting, because you not only have your everyday life, and your other family members, but you’re continuously on that search,” said Morris' mother, Jonni McElroy.
Now that Arochi has been formally indicted, McElroy hopes he will help authorities in the search for her daughter.
“I hope he would do the right thing and end the pain and suffering he not only put his family through but us,” McElroy added.
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In a statement released Tuesday, Arochi's court-appointed attorney said:
"Enrique denies the allegations in the indictment and will enter a not guilty plea. Grand jury proceedings are controlled by the prosecution and are closed to the public. We therefore do not know what the grand jury considered. Now that the charge has been indicted, the law requires the prosecution to disclose certain information to the defense. We will test the prosecution's claims and present Enrique's defense to a jury. Enrique asks to receive only that to which we are entitled: a fair trial."
In a separate case, according to an Allen police arrest warrant, then 22-year-old Arochi — now 24 — was involved in a 6-month sexual relationship with a girl who was 16 years old at the time. The girl claims Arochi told her he was 19.
The warrant indicates that Arochi and the girl met while working together at a restaurant. The two had sexual intercourse “15-20 times” at Arochi's parents’ Allen home, where the girl said she would often spend the night. The girl said she thinks Arochi told his parents she was 18.
Police said they also found an incriminating message on Arochi’s phone where he confirmed the sexual relationship.
Bond for Arochi is set at $1 million, and he remains at the Collin County Jail in McKinney.
Arochi also faces an unrelated theft charge in Wylie. He is due in court April 2 regarding that misdemeanor case.
“This is the new beginning, shows a milestone of justice soon to be served,” said McElroy.
To commemorate the indictment, Morris’ mother got a tattoo on Tuesday symbolizing the bond between mother and daughter. For McElroy, the bond is still strong, despite her daughter's disappearance.
“I still feel her spirit, I still feel her hugs, I still feel her dreaming with me,” she said.
