A 36-year-old man, George Mandarakas, faces charges of attempted kidnapping in the Eastern District of Michigan after an elaborate plan to abduct his ex-girlfriend and take her to Morocco was uncovered.
Mandarakas, who met the woman at the University of Notre Dame in 2019, allegedly stalked her and devised a scheme involving a stun gun, ropes, and plans to sail to either Cuba or Morocco, according to a federal complaint.
The couple dated for over four years until the woman discovered Mandarakas had lied about his age. She ended the relationship on October 1, instructing him not to contact her.
Ignoring her wishes, Mandarakas immediately traveled from his New Jersey home to a hotel in Trenton, Michigan, near her residence. He bombarded her with text messages and calls, eventually convincing her to meet at a park.
Despite her repeated rejections, Mandarakas allegedly blocked her and attempted to prevent her from closing her car door.
On November 22, Mandarakas approached the woman outside a salon, raising suspicions about how he knew her whereabouts. He again tried to obstruct her, even proposing with a diamond ring.
Despite her driving away, Mandarakas persisted, showing up at a bar later that night. He continued sending messages declaring his intention to win her back and marry her.
Alarming behavior escalated as Mandarakas sent gifts, including a laptop and old clothing, via mail. He made peculiar statements to a friend about a podcast involving a man kidnapping his girlfriend and taking her to Mexico.
The friend warned him against such actions, but Mandarakas allegedly insisted that all options were on the table.
Concerned for the woman’s safety, the friend informed her about Mandarakas’ troubling remarks.
A private detective family member advised the woman to check for tracking devices in her vehicle. A search uncovered a hidden tracking tile inside the bumper, prompting heightened concerns.
On Christmas Day, the family drove the vehicle with the tracking tile to St. Joseph’s Church in Trenton, where Mandarakas arrived afterwards and was seen circling the parking lot.
Police were alerted, and upon questioning, Mandarakas claimed his ex-girlfriend frequented the church, leading to his arrest on suspicion of stalking.
A subsequent search of Mandarakas’ rental car revealed U.S. and Canadian cash, multiple cell phones, a tracking device, and maps outlining routes from Florida to Cuba and New Jersey to Morocco.
The vehicle contained a supply list, including water, food, medicine, a satellite phone, and instructions to change his name.
Mandarakas was found with a key to his own vehicle, which held a gun, ammunition, rope, a stun gun, and a tarp with a shipping tag addressed to his New Jersey home.
Prosecutors filed attempted kidnapping charges on December 28, and Mandarakas appeared in court the following day. He remains in custody, as records show.
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