Illegal immigrant charged with kidnapping woman, two children from Alabama home

Alabama authorities arrested an illegal immigrant on charges of kidnapping a family of three from their own home last month.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office said they charged Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra, a Guatemalan national, in the case that involves a missing mother and her two children. A judge ordered him to remain behind bars Wednesday on a $900,000 bond.

Investigators linked the suspect to the Jan. 31 kidnapping that saw Aurelia Choc Cac, 40, 17-year-old daughter Niurka, and two-year-old son Anthony taken from their house.

Police have struggled to gather clues about why the family was abducted or where they could be now.

“We don’t know what the motive would have been,” Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said Tuesday. “We have some theories, but we’re exploring several different theories. One thing that all of these [people] have in common is they’re all here illegally.”

Ms. Cac and Niurka are both illegal immigrants from Guatemala, and the pair had their final deportation orders issued last April. Officials said toddler Anthony is a U.S. citizen.

Mr. Argueta Guerra’s suspected accomplice, 60-year-old Silverio Garcia, is also an illegal immigrant from Guatemala.

Mr. Garcia was arrested last week on a weapons charge in connection to the kidnapping. Authorities said Mr. Argueta Guerra has an active detainer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Police said they tied Mr. Argueta Guerra to the crime after spotting a suspicious black van outside the home on the day the family went missing.

During Wednesday’s court hearing, investigators said the van was registered to a man who is dating Mr. Argueta Guerra’s sister. The van was eventually found at the sister’s house, and the sister’s boyfriend said he loaned it to Mr. Argueta Guerra.

Detectives said the suspect gave conflicting answers about the van when he was interrogated. He first told police he didn’t know anything about the vehicle, then later said it belonged to his boss.

Police said a cell phone associated with Mr. Argueta Guerra had been in the same area as the van at the time of the kidnapping.

Investigators also mentioned signs of a struggle inside the Cac family’s home, with blood found on a mattress, a couch and some shoes. Another mattress was taken from the residence, but the family’s cell phones and cash were left behind.

“We’re hoping that someone will tell us where they are,” Sheriff Burch said. “Anytime you arrest somebody, you’re in hopes that they’re going to tell you what occurred. Our main goal is to find them safely and bring them back home.”

Mr. Argueta Guerra is due back in court Friday for his arraignment.