WHEELING, W. Va. -- The mother of the young girl who was abducted and raped in Wheeling is pleading with the public to speak up if they know who attacked her daughter.

Her mother sat down with NEWS9 Tuesday night to talk about how the young victim is doing.

The Wheeling mother said she never thought such a horrible crime would be committed to one of her own.

"I didn't want to believe it,” said the mother. “I thought it was a bad dream. It's a feeling that no parent ever wants to feel."

NEWS9 is not releasing the mother’s name to protect everyone’s identity in this case.

Just one day before her daughter's 12th birthday, the mother said the girl was walking with a friend, when a man grabbed her, put her in his truck, raped her, and then dropped her off in Bridgeport.

As police launched a massive search for the man, the family was left in shock.

“We are hurt, angry,” said the mother. “I just want him caught so my daughter can sleep."

The mother said her daughter, who is a straight-A student, was doing better Tuesday night.

She invited the family over to celebrate her birthday.

"We had her birthday party,” said the mother. “We got her friends and family together, showed her people really do love her, because when something like this happens to a child, it puts a lot of doubt in their mind. She's a happy little girl. I hope this doesn't affect her."

Now the mother of eight wants to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else.

She is pleading with the public, “If you've seen the suspect, or the truck he may have been driving, please call police.”

If you have information in this case, you can call the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crimebusters Tipline at 1-800-862-BUST.

It’s a free call and you don’t have to leave your name.

Natalie Pasquarella, NEWS9