Feds Charge Three in Shocking North Carolina Kidnapping of Mom and Baby

In a chilling incident in Garner, North Carolina, federal authorities have apprehended three illegal immigrants accused of orchestrating a brazen kidnapping of a mother and her 13-month-old baby from their home on April 28. The suspects, Eleodoro "Leo" Estrada-Hernandez, 37, Paola Duran Duran, 25, and Miguel Angel Duran Duran, 23, face serious charges, including first-degree kidnapping and second-degree kidnapping. Estrada-Hernandez also faces additional counts for felony firearm possession and assault.

The terrifying ordeal began as the family unloaded groceries, noticing a black Nissan Altima circling their home. Later, a knock at the door revealed Paola, who asked for a fictitious "Maria." When the family clarified no such person lived there, Miguel and Estrada-Hernandez, donning ski masks, stormed in. They bound the husband with duct tape, covered his eyes and mouth, and demanded an astronomical $1 million ransom.

The mother and baby were forcibly taken to Wake Forest, where the suspects bizarrely made the mother bathe to wash off evidence while Miguel held her child. An Amber Alert buzzing on their phones spooked the kidnappers, prompting them to abandon the victims on a desolate dirt road. The mother and baby found refuge at a nearby home, where a resident called 911.

FBI special agent Robert M. DeWitt praised the swift, collaborative response, noting the use of advanced investigative tools to ensure the victims’ safe recovery. Court documents reveal Estrada-Hernandez as the alleged mastermind, enticing his accomplices with a promise of $100,000. If convicted, all three face up to life in prison.

This case underscores the critical role of law enforcement partnerships in tackling violent crime and raises pressing questions about community safety.