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Sunnyvale's Newspaper

A police artist rendered this image of one of the kidnappers.

Police seek suspects in Cherry Chase abduction

By Justin Berton

Three suspects are still being hunted by the Sunnyvale Public Safety Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation after allegedly abducting a 9-month-old baby from the arms of her babysitter at gun point June 11.

A teenager found Yecenia Solorzano unharmed and in good health outside a Palo Alto Taco Bell on El Camino Real later in the evening, shortly after the baby's father received a ransom call for an undisclosed amount of cash.

Officer Terri Wiebold said police and the FBI are searching "anywhere and everywhere" for the suspects, who were last seen driving a four-door red compact vehicle heading northbound on Bernardo Avenue near Cherry Chase Elementary School.

Police have not released any new information since last week's abduction, where more than 80 officers and agents from six local and federal agencies assembled to work on the case.

"I saw her myself and she looks great," Capt. Steve Pigott said after the Friday morning press conference at department headquarters.

Wiebold said that at about 10:50 a.m. three men, all described by witnesses as Hispanic, knocked on the door of the Solorzano residence in the 1100 block of Jamestown Drive and entered without force. One of the suspects pointed a gun at Yecenia's babysitter and removed the baby from the apartment. Police declined to give the name or age of the babysitter.

Several hours later, Yecenia's father, Benito, received a phone call for an undisclosed amount of money in return for the safe return of his daughter.

"No cash ever exchanged hands," Wiebold said. Wiebold would not say if the police or Solorzano negotiated a price or discussed a planned drop site for the exchange.

At 10 p.m. the same evening, a passerby found Yecenia fully clothed, unharmed and "acting as if nothing happened," Pigott said. Wiebold said the Solorzanos were united with Yecenia at department headquarters after a brief medical exam.

Yecenia's parents were at the family-owned Benito's Cleaning Service in Sunnyvale during the alleged abduction, Wiebold said.

Wiebold said the family has never been the object of threats before and was taken by surprise from Thursday's events.

"We do not know why this family was the target," she said.

Investigators removed the pay telephone in front of the Taco Bell near the spot where Yecenia was found and confiscated surveillance tapes from the fast-food eatery, Wiebold said.

The suspect police released a sketch of is described as Latino, 5 feet 5 inches tall and 160 pounds. He was wearing a gray shirt with blue horizontal stripes, Pigott said.

Pigott said a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the three suspects who remain at large.

A 24 hour tip line has been set-up 408/730-7110

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This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 17, 1998.
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