Two illegal immigrants and another man kidnapped a terrified mother and her infant daughter in North Carolina on Monday after the family refused to pay $1 million, according to authorities.
Paola Duran Duran, 25, her brother Miguel Angel Duran Duran, 23, and Eleodoro “Leo” Estrada-Hernandez, 37, are accused of holding the pair at gunpoint before releasing them.
Mom and daughter later showed up at a stranger’s door, asking for help.
“The Garner Police Department is thankful that these victims were recovered “safely,” according to a statement.
“We appreciate the support of our community as we work tirelessly to arrest the suspects responsible and uncover the motive behind this crime.”
While the siblings were arrested on Wednesday, the third suspect, Estrada-Hernandez, is still at large and has a $10,000 reward for his capture.
According to local reports, the two arrested suspects were illegally present in the United States and were being held by ICE. The man’s whereabouts remained unknown.
The harrowing abduction began Monday night when the masked trio armed with guns allegedly shouldered their way into the home of Eliuth Alejandro Martinez, demanding money, according to police.
Police said that the victims claimed to investigators that the kidnappers wanted $1 million, but Martinez refused to pay.
The kidnappers then allegedly wrapped him with duct tape and fled with his wife, Alondra Michelle Benitez De Jesus, 26, and the couple’s 11-month-old daughter, Grecia Salome Alejandro-Benitez, in a black Nissan Altima.
“Investigators quickly uncovered evidence and began to follow multiple leads to locate the victims,” according to a Garner County Police Department press release.
The kidnappers released the mother and daughter, who sought assistance by knocking on a woman’s door early Tuesday morning, according to police.
The homeowner dialed 911, and police arrived to collect them.
The Duran Duran siblings were apprehended less than 24 hours after their abduction during a joint investigation by local police, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI.
The two were charged with multiple counts of kidnapping.
The FBI is still searching for Estrada-Hernandez, who faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and assault.
Hernandez is described as five-foot-four and weighs around 190 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos on his forearm.
