A man allegedly kidnapped a pregnant woman at gunpoint from her home in Washington and left her stranded in Mexico, thousands of miles away.
According to charging documents first obtained by Komo News., Daniel Lopez, 24, is accused of first-degree kidnapping and illicit firearm possession.
According to the Auburn Police Department (APD), Lopez was found after the FBI and local officials conducted a collaborative investigation into the disappearance of Jackelin Perez, a 21-year-old Auburn resident.
Authorities located his license plate and apprehended him in Houston, Texas, more than 2,300 miles from Auburn, according to the APD. According to the local TV station, Lopez was extradited to Washington prior to being charged.
Perez had emigrated to Washington with her husband from Guatemala months prior to when she went missing last month, according to authorities.
The woman was six weeks pregnant when she was “taken from her home under duress” in a “extraordinarily violent kidnapping” that took place between 6 and 7 p.m. on October 13 from her residence in the northeastern part of the city, according to police.
According to prosecution documents, Perez’s husband reported her missing on the morning of October 14 after returning home about 20 minutes after she had been kidnapped by at least two males, including Lopez.
According to officials, the victim was taken to Mexico by the kidnappers before being freed.
Why the kidnappers chose to take her to Mexico is still unknown. Perez was not actively participating in the unlawful behavior that police conjectured she was “caught up in.”
Before she was found, searches were conducted in Mexico and Guatemala as well.
“Jackelin Perez is alive and has been found. APD reported in a statement on October 23 that Mexican authorities had discovered her in Mexico earlier this week. “She confirmed that she was actually kidnapped at gunpoint after speaking with Perez.”
“It was shocking,” APD public relations officer Kolby Crossley told WSAZ3.
Regarding Perez’s location, he continued, “It was a surprise to all of us and really just thrilled.”
“Our investigators, who have been searching for Jackelin around the clock, did a great job. The APD said in their statement, “We also want to thank the FBI and the other agencies that assisted in this case.”
For further details, The Independent has reached out to the APD.