U.S. man who abducted, sexually abused 13-year-old Edmonton girl sentenced to 50 years in prison

A U.S. man guilty of kidnapping and sexually abusing an Edmonton teen has been sentenced to 50 years behind bars.

Noah Madrano pled guilty in January to two U.S. felonies related to the 2022 abduction and assault of the 13-year-old girl.

During sentencing Tuesday, Oregon U.S. District Court Judge Michael Moseman explained why he did not sentence Madrano to life in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

BACKGROUND: Oregon man put Edmonton girl in trunk to cross U.S. border

“All I can do is pass a sentence that follows the law,” Judge Moseman said. “So it is my difficult and sad duty to recognize that this case, as horrible as it is, is not in the same category as other cases that warrant a life sentence.”

The young victim, who CityNews is not identifying, spoke at the sentencing hearing.

“I remember the day I met Noah; I was so innocent,” she said. “And you were just a monster, a monster who used me and then decided to try and end my life.”

The now 16-year-old said because of the trauma, her mind has blocked out some details, however she still has flashbacks and nightmares related to the abuse. She shared poems she wrote to help cope with the trauma.

“Pain, blood, hurt. After that night my sickness got to me. Tears melted my face, and my body in pain, asking myself why me? Looking in the mirror and asking myself, over and over, why me? You have no idea, so let me ask you again. Why me?”

The girl ended by addressing Madrano and the judge directly.

“Noah, I hope you [expletive] rot in prison. Your honour, please give Madrano the maximum sentence. I deserve to be free, he does not.”

The victim’s mother and father also spoke and asked the judge to impose a maximum life sentence.

They thanked Edmontonians for plastering the city with missing person posters in the days their daughter was reported missing, saying the community rallying brought out the best in humanity. But the mother also noted how the public nature of the crime has led to an increase in bullying, and how rumors impacted their two daughters.

Jude Moseman told the court he has never seen someone who pled guilty to an offence show less remorse than Madrano, seeing a low likelihood of rehabilitation.

“His story, that he asserted even through allocution today, is ridiculous. Painfully blind,” Moseman said.

Madrano told the court he kidnapped the girl because of a manic episode, believing she loved him and wanted to run away with him.

The judge said that was not justified by any facts of the case, calling the story a complete lie. “I reject categorically that he only wanted what was best for her,” Moseman said.

Madrano previously admitted to meeting the young girl online and grooming her for sexual purposes.

The then 41-year-old travelled to Edmonton to meet the 13-year-old girl in person once before taking her into the United States.

During his first trip, he took her to a hotel room in Edmonton, sexually abused her and made videos of the abuse later posting it online.

On Madrano’s second trip, he abducted the girl from near her school, took her to a hotel room and sexually abused her for several days.

Court heard how Madrano escalated his abuse against the young victim over several days before driving her out of province and country, threatening her with death and changing her appearance. Madrano eventually drove the child across the U.S. border in the trunk of his vehicle to a hotel room in Oregon City where the abuse continued.

On July 2, 2022, FBI agents and Oregon City police found Madrano and the girl in the Oregon City hotel. The girl had been missing for eight days.

At the time of the arrest, the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) said there would be the possibility of Canadian charges once the U.S. court process wrapped up.

“I can confirm the EPS is aware of today’s sentencing hearing and will continue to work closely with the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) following its conclusion to determine any applicable next steps. There are currently no updates to share,” Edmonton police told CityNews.

–With files from The Associated Press