The boy was taken after a staged traffic collision, authorities said, in retaliation for his father stealing something from the abductors.
A 17-year-old boy who authorities said was kidnapped in Highland and held for ransom was rescued Friday, Sept. 22, after the three abductors who said the teen’s father stole from them were tracked to their hideout in Santa Barbara County.
The defendants were scheduled to make their first court appearance on Monday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.According to a sworn affidavit filed with the criminal complaint, at about 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 18, the men caused a traffic collision with the boy in Highland. When he exited the car, they forced him into their Jeep Grand Cherokee. That afternoon, the boy’s mother received a telephone call that appeared to come from Mexico.