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LOCAL NEWS
FridayNovember202009



x59
Kidnapping victims safe, 2 abductors on the loose
8/4/2008 7:45 PM
By: Catie Beck

The escaped victim made it to this Whataburger restaurant to call for help.  
The plan behind last week's apartment complex abduction, according to investigators, was just that: complex.

"It's been a long time since Austin's had a kidnapping that has been this complex," FBI Agent Charlie Rasner said. "They planned it out."

On Thursday, three men were kidnapped in South Austin, and one of the three escaped.

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Suspects at large

Authorities continue their search for two men.



The search for the other two men had police and federal authorities following clues from Austin, San Antonio, Laredo and finally ending their search in Dallas.

"If it had gone as seamless as what we now know, this would have taken about an hour and a half," Austin Police Department's Lt. Mark Spangler said.

The escaped victim made it to a Whataburger where he called police.

Wanted: Jesus Hector Saenz-Sr.  
The other two victims were found bound in the back of a Dallas property, held for ransom.

Police followed the money.

"Greed was the motive for this ... so the actual dollar amount doesn't matter," Spangler said.

Two men are in custody already, and Jesus Hector Saenz Sr. and Luis Owens Gonzalez are wanted.

FBI agents in Central Texas said these crimes are becoming common.

"These things happen more frequently towards the border instead of this far North, but we have seen more recently, there's no doubt about it," Rasner said.

At this point, authorities are not sure why the numbers are on the rise, but the ultimate end in these cases is usually foreseeable.
Wanted: Luis Owens Gonzales.  

"The goal was to bleed the family of every penny they could get, and then either set the victims free or kill them," APD's Cmdr. Julie O'Brien said

Fortunately for the victims in this case, police were able to determine their fate before their captors did.

Police said without a money trail, they need the public's help to locate Saenz and Gonzalez.

If you know their whereabouts, you're urged to call Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS.

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8/3/082 kidnapped men now back with families



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News 8's Jenna Hiller explored the troubled waters in Central Texas and traveled down the Colorado River in search of information. Click on the links to watch, read and interact.

Part 1: Regional cooperation drying out
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Part 5: Bad news travels near and far

Where does your water come from?

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