Police: Boy, 1, abducted over drug money

Police: Manuel Recendez taken from stroller in Alvin

Manuel Recendez

ALVIN, Texas – A 1-year-old boy was kidnapped because his father owed money for drugs, investigators said.

An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night after 14-month-old Manuel Recendez was snatched from his stroller as his mother pushed him on West Phillips near 2nd Street in Alvin, police said. Detectives said three males and two females in a white Nissan pulled up and took the boy.

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A few hours after the kidnapping, one of the suspects, who knew Manuel's father's phone number, called to say they had taken the child and wanted money owed from a past drug deal for the boy's safe return. Officers said they negotiated with the suspect to drop the boy off at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital that night.

Two people, Mayra Isabel Orozco, 43, and her 15-year-old daughter took Manuel to the hospital. They were both arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping.

Investigators said Thursday that a 22-year-old man turned himself in on an aggravated assault warrant connected to the kidnapping. That man's name has not been released. Police have not said if he will also face a kidnapping charge.

Police said Orozco and her daughter did not have any connection to the Recendez family or the baby.

Chief Mike Merkel with the Alvin Police Department said Orozco and her daughter faced aggravated kidnapping charges because there was a discussion of money.

Manuel Recendez