A Massachusetts man who kidnapped a seven-year-old girl from a cookout at her grandparents’ home and threw her from a bridge into a lake has been charged with attempted murder.

NBC News reports that Joshua Hubert, 35, is behind held on $1 million bail on an attempted murder charge. When he was arrested earlier this week, he was charged only with kidnapping.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Hubert was a guest at a cookout hosted by the victim’s grandparents in Worcester on Saturday. At about 2:30 a.m Sunday morning, he allegedly snatched the sleeping little girl from a couch, took her in his car, and drove with her for an hour, stopping at one point to choke her.

He then drove to a highway overpass bridge over Lake Quinsigamond, and reportedly threw her in the water. But the little girl showed remarkable survival skills, swimming about 100 yards to shore and walking, in soaking wet pajamas, to a home in Shrewsbury where she knocked on the door at around 4:30 a.m Sunday.

Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. told NBC News that the girl was recovering from “visible, but not life-threatening injuries.”

“Fortunately, a greater tragedy was averted,” Early said. “The young victim had the strength to make it to shore and get help. I want to thank the resident who answered the door and helped the girl.”

Hubert has not yet entered a plea, but his attorney told the news outlet that he maintains his innocence.

A motive for the alleged kidnapping and attempted murder is not yet known.

Feature photo: Pixabay