A gum wrapper and a receipt helped authorities track down a Pennsylvania man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old mentally disabled Wheeling woman.

Jesús Tapia, 37, of Washington, Pa., was indicted Wednesday on five felony counts by a federal grand jury in Clarksburg, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld II.

The release stated that Tapia is accused of kidnapping "a low-functioning Wheeling woman and taking her across state lines to engage in illegal sexual activity for four days in July."

The indictment alleges that Tapia and another person conspired to kidnap the woman from a street near her home and take her to Washington County, where she was held for four days so that Tapia and others could have sexual relations with her against her will.

The victim disappeared on July 7, and a group of concerned citizens prepared a flier and helped officials search the Elm Grove section of Ohio County for her. Four days later, the woman showed up at home.

"We believe that her captors knew that there was a search going on, or that the community, the media, law enforcement groups were working together to try and find her," Ihlenfeld told NEWS9.

Ihlenfeld said it was difficult to get information on what happened until they found a phone number written on a gun wrapper in the victim's pocket the day she returned.

"We searched the number, went through a number of data bases and were able to ID the subscriber for this particular phone number," he said. "The fact that she had that phone number in her possession was a key piece of evidence for us to help track down the defendant."

Ihlenfeld said investigators also found another clue.

"She also had a receipt in her pocket from a restaurant in Washington, Pennsylvania, with a date on it that also helped us to confirm her story and to know that she had been in Washington days after she disappeared," he said.

According to the news release, other people remain under investigation and may be charged with similar offenses.

The criminal complaint states the victim said she called Tapia "Choice" and another man was with them that she believed was his boss. Ihlenfeld said that's what makes them think there is a second person involved.

"We believe that there was somebody that conspired with Mr. Tapia, who conspired to kidnap the victim and take her to Washington, Pennsylvania, and sexually assault her. We don't have at this point a full name," Ihlenfeld told NEWS9.

As of Thursday morning, Tapia remained in the West Virginia Northern Regional Jail facing five charges, including conspiracy to engage in illegal sexual activity and kidnapping. U.S. Magistrate Judge James Siebert did not set a bail for him.

If convicted, Tapia faces life in prison.

Ihlenfeld said this case isn't easy, but his office is ready to prosecute.

"This is a frightening crime. Whenever a child is abducted, sexually assaulted, that is a person's worst night make, but this person was low functioning and childlike, and it's just as scary when someone in my opinion is just abducted, taken against their will and taken across state lines and then sexually assaulted," he said.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert H. McWilliams Jr. Ihlenfeld also said they are checking to see if Tapia is a United States citizen. He said, if not, who handles the case could change.

The Wheeling Police Department and the Harmony House Child Advocacy Center helped the FBI during the investigation.

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