Three suspects have been arrested accused of kidnapping a three-month-old child while his grandmother was unloading groceries, including a female “family friend” who drove the woman and baby on errands the same day.
Brandon Cuellar was kidnapped from an apartment in San Jose, California during the day Monday. The baby was recovered Tuesday, unharmed and healthy, according to the San Jose Police Department
“Baby Brandon has been found,” the department tweeted Tuesday, adding that he “was being taken to a local hospital as a precaution, but he was found alive.” They gave no details on where the boy was found or in which one state he was.
‘A million thanks to everyone who helped.’
A suspect entered a home on the 1000 block of Elm Street around 1 p.m. Monday and walked with the boy. Police released video showing the man walking down the sidewalk holding a baby carrier covered by a white blanket.
Yesenia Guadalupe Ramirez, of San Jose, 43, was arrested Monday as a “person of interest” after her statement to police changed several times when she was questioned.
San Jose police spokesman Sgt. Christian Camarillo told reporters Tuesday that she was with Brandon’s grandmother when an unidentified man abducted the child.
“This was a person who was with the grandmother yesterday when they went shopping, she was present at the condominium when that happened,” he said. “There were some inconsistencies with what she told us. Apparently to draw our attention to what she knows about it.”
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Jose Roman Portillo, 28 (left), Yesenia Guadalupe Ramirez, 43 (center) and Baldomeo Sandoval, 37 (right), were arrested in connection with the kidnapping of 3-month-old Brandon Cuellar from a San Jose apartment while his grandmother was loaded outside groceries from her car
Brandon Cuellar (pictured) was abducted from a San Jose apartment around 1pm on Monday – he was recovered about 20 hours later
The three-month-old child was found on Tuesday, police said
He was taken to a local hospital as a precaution
Then, police said, Baldomeo Sandoval, of San Jose, 37, was identified as another person of interest and interviewed. Both Ramirez and Sandoval were arrested on Monday.
The next day, detectives from the San Jose Police Department Covert Response Unit, MERGE Unit and Robbery Unit Detectives executed a search warrant at the home of the third suspect, Jose Roman Portillo, 28, of San Jose.
That’s where they found Brandon, 20 hours after he was reported missing.
“This incident is a parent’s worst nightmare and we are fortunate to have the best department in the nation that helped produce a positive outcome. This case underscores once again the dedication and commitment of our women and men who work hard every day to keep our community safe,” said Police Commissioner Anthony Mata.
In a press conference Wednesday morning, Camarillo said that Ramirez was a family friend and that the kidnappers’ motives were still under investigation.
“There is a human component to this incident,” he said, according to ABC7. “Mom is very traumatized right now. She needs her space.”
The San Jose Police Department did not respond to ‘s request for comment.
Camarillo said the baby’s mother was at work at the time and his father was in prison.
“Dad is out of the picture right now. He is imprisoned. I don’t know if that matters, but of course we’ll talk to him soon,” Camarillo said Monday. It is unclear why the father is in prison.
One of the suspects entered a home on the 1000 block of Elm Street around 1 p.m. Monday and exited with the boy
Police released a video clip showing the man walking down the sidewalk holding a baby carrier covered by a white blanket
Authorities did not issue a yellow alert because investigators had no vehicle description.
In the early hours of the investigation, officials and FBI agents went door-to-door in neighborhoods looking for witnesses or information.