LAST April 27, 2:25 pm The San Jose Police Department told a news conference Wednesday that one of the three suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of a 3-month-old boy is a family friend.
Sergeant Christian Camarillo said Jesse Guadalupe Ramirez went shopping with Brandon Cuelar’s grandmother before he was abducted from the apartment. He also said Ramirez was in contact with other suspects before the baby was taken from the San Jose apartment on Monday.
Camarillo said Ramirez, Baldomeo Sandoval and Jose Roman Portillo have been charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping children and breaking into a home, but they may change as the investigation continues.
“We don’t know if all three suspects will keep these four charges,” he said.
April 27, 10:45 a.m. San Jose police released the names of the three suspects arrested in connection with the abduction of a 3-month-old baby from an apartment on Wednesday morning.
Jose Roman Portillo, 28, Jesse Guadalupe Ramirez, 43, and Baldomeo Sandoval, 37, are all San Jose residents, the San Jose Police Department said.
Baby Brandon Cuelar was abducted just before 1pm on Monday from an apartment in San Jose on Block 1000 on Elm Street while his grandmother was unloading groceries from the car. The boy’s mother was at work at the time; the father was expelled as a suspect as he is currently in prison.
Calling on the public to help find the child, police released videos Monday night showing a man entering the apartment and leaving with a baby basket covered in a white blanket. According to police, Portillo is the man shown in the video who “illegally entered the residence and abducted the baby.” Police obtained the video after touring the neighborhood and asking neighbors to share surveillance footage.
Ramirez drove the grandmother and child to carry out orders and shop for groceries before the abduction, police said. Ramirez’s statement is said to have changed during the investigation and interview process.
Police did not comment on Sandoval’s involvement, except that he was “an additional suspect in the case and was also detained and questioned.”
San Jose police found the baby unharmed and healthy on Tuesday, but did not comment on where it was found. “The victim was transported to a local hospital and reunited with his family,” police said.
When police first reported the abduction on Tuesday morning, they said the child was taken by a stranger. Police now say the early investigation suggests a connection between the family and the suspects, ABC7 reported.
San Jose police said they would share more information about specific allegations later Wednesday.
Anyone with information about this case or similar incidents involving these suspects can contact Detective Van Brand at 408-277-4166.
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