Baby Brandon Cuellar Rescued, Suspects Arrested in San Jose 3-Month-Old Kidnapping

Following his kidnapping on Monday, April 25, the police rescued Baby Brandon Cuellar, who is now in the local hospital as a precautionary measure. Authorities have three people in custody in relation to the San Jose 3-month-old kidnapping case.

The baby was left alone inside his grandmother's apartment while she was unloading the groceries. However, in that brief time, a man entered her house and then took the child, who was still strapped to his carrier.

Surveillance videos on the scene revealed a man walking with a covered carrier on the sidewalk near the apartment. The cops believed that this man had the 3-month-old baby. However, when they showed the video to the family, no one recognized the abductor.

Soon after the abduction, the California Highway Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory but held off on the Amber Alert since they were not able to identify the license plate and vehicle of the kidnappers.

The grandmother was watching baby Brandon while his mother was at work. The baby's father, on the other hand, is in prison, according to CNN.  

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A Positive Outcome

Police Chief Anthony Mata said that the San Jose 3-month-old kidnapping case is every parent's worst nightmare, but they were fortunate to have a positive outcome when Brandon was found alive barely 24 hours later.

According to NBC Bay Area, the police got a tip of the kidnappers' location from someone working in an adult care facility a few blocks away. The woman, identified only as Gloria, called 911 to say that there was a van outside with an empty baby carrier.

Gloria said that she did not feel right about what she saw, so she reported it to the police. Within a few minutes, the cops were in the area, and then an arrest was made. Gloria was relieved when she saw the police giving the baby to the first responders.

SJPD Assistant Chief Paul Joseph said that the San Jose 3-month-old kidnapping case remains an active investigation even if Brandon has been rescued and checked by doctors. The police are confident that they have the right suspects in custody but refused to divulge more information, such as their identities, as it may impact the investigation.

Suffice it to say, the cops believe that the kidnappers have some connection to the family.

"We don't know exactly what that connection is," the assistant chief said. "That's something that will be determined during the course of the investigation."

Woman in Custody Has Inconsistencies

According to ABC 7, one of the individuals in custody was a woman accompanying Brandon and his grandmother while grocery shopping. She was also in the apartment when the kidnapping occurred.

The police said they had to detain and question the woman as she had some inconsistencies about what happened. The police also implied that they would question the baby's father in prison.

Meanwhile, the community around College Park, where the baby was abducted, rejoiced upon learning that baby Brandon was safe. Some of the residents said they were keeping track of the events unfolding on Twitter. They are relieved to know that the baby is now back with his mother.

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