Former Colombian rebel leaders recognize role in kidnappings
A group of former leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, say the guerrilla organization was responsible for war crimes, including the kidnapping of thousands of civilians for ransom and also holding politicians as hostages for several years in the hopes of exchanging them for imprisoned rebels.
Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for abducting woman from Katy home, holding her captive for 3 days
A 23-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for admitting to his role in the violent kidnapping of a woman from her home in Katy, US Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery announced Thursday.
Houston man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting ex-wife for 4 days, prosecutors say
HOUSTON – A Houston man is accused of kidnapping his ex-wife and sexually assaulting her over a four-day time span, according to prosecutors. According to court documents, the victim said Herrera showed up at her home drunk on Friday, March 19, and kidnapped her while being armed with a knife. AdAccording to court documents, Herrera told the victim that he was going to “kill her tonight,” and pulled out a small knife and made the victim take off her pants and underwear. On Sunday, the victim said Herrera attempted to cut her wrist several times and even hit her in the face. According to the victim, on Monday morning, Herrera sexually assaulted her again before driving her back home and said, “If you tell anyone, I will come back and kill you.
Nigerian governor says 279 kidnapped schoolgirls are freed
Zamfara state governor Bello Matawalle announced that 279 girls who were abducted last week from a boarding school in the northwestern Zamfara state have been released Tuesday. Bello Matawalle said that 279 girls had been freed after being abducted from the Government Girls Junior Secondary School in Jangebe town on Friday. It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students,” Matawalle said in a post on Twitter early Tuesday. In December, more than 300 schoolboys from a secondary school in Kankara, in northwestern Nigeria, were taken and later released. The government has said no ransom was paid for the students’ release.
Woman abducted from Liberty County home at gunpoint found safe in Illinois, authorities say
LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – A woman abducted at gunpoint from her Liberty County home Tuesday was found alive and unharmed in Illinois, according to authorities. On Tuesday, it was reported that Erika Rios Valdez, 32, was kidnapped from her home around 9:30 p.m. while parking and unhooking a food service trailer on County Road 3404 in the Plum Grove area in north Liberty County. An acquaintance, identified by authorities as Abel Farjado, 38, drove up and forced Valdez into his pickup truck at gunpoint. Police said Valdez is now staying with family members in that area and is awaiting a flight back to Liberty Texas to rejoin her family there. Police said there is a possibility of federal charges being lodged against Fajardo as Valdez was taken across state lines.
Texas City girl kidnapped by her mother in 2014 found in Madisonville, FBI says
MADISONVILLE, Texas – A nearly six-year search for a missing Texas City teen has come to an end after she was found in Madisonville. Heather Renee Inks, 37, was arrested for kidnapping her then daughter Penelope Inks in October 2014, according to the FBI. According to the FBI, Heather ran off with Penelope and left Texas City after Penelope’s father was granted sole custody of her. Heather, who is a former model and actress, created multiple false identities but revealed who she was after being tracked down on April 4 at a Madisonville motel. She was taken into the custody of Child Protective Services and admitted to the hospital for a physical and mental evaluation.
Woman accused of kidnapping ex-girlfriend’s son was left in charge of him while mom traveled for work, police say
Nicole Harrison, 30, has been charged with kidnapping after police said she took her ex-girlfriend’s son, sparking an Amber Alert. Prosecutors said she took her ex-girlfriend’s 10-year-old son to a motel near Greenspoint yesterday without the permission of his mother. The child’s mother told police her and Harrison had been together for eight years up until five months ago. The child’s mother said he called Harrison “dad” all of his life. The child told his mom he missed Harrison and wanted to see her.