On November 10, 2004, Adriana Valdez of San Antonio, TX contacted the Parental Abduction Child Recovery Team. She reported that her ex-husband, Moises Vargas, had taken their fifteen-year-old son, Jacob to St. Paul, MN. Ms. Valdez had a valid custody order giving her physical and legal custody of Jacob, and Moises had every other weekend parenting time. On October 15, 2004, Moises had taken Jacob for a weekend parenting time, but instead of returning him on October 17, Moises took Jacob to St. Paul, MN.

          Ms. Valdez also informed us that Jacob was supposed to be on medication. However, Moises was refusing to allow Jacob to take his medication. Ms. Valdez had received information that Moises was recently arrested for Domestic Assault of his girlfriend, and may have been admitted to a mental health facility. Jacob’s whereabouts were unknown.

          A TEAM was quickly put together consisting of Ed Wunsch, Robin Dietz-Mayfield, and Jeff Stender. Ed contacted Ms. Valdez and asked if she had reported the abduction to the local police. Ms. Valdez responded that she had called the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department, but was told this was a non-police issue, and they could not understand how she could have allowed someone to take her son. Ed advised Ms. Valdez to go to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department and ask to speak with an investigator. Ed gave Ms. Valdez the appropriate Federal Statutes requiring the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department to enter her son into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Ms. Valdez followed Ed’s directions and convinced the Sheriff’s Department to enter Jacob into NCIC.

          In the meantime, Ed was able to learn that Moises had an extensive criminal record in Minnesota including such charges as False Information to Police, 5th Degree Domestic Assault, Felony Drugs, and Assault.

          In consultation with the TEAM, a decision was made that Ms. Valdez would ship a certified copy of her custody order to us. Robin would get the order registered in Minnesota and get a pick-up order for Jacob. Arrangements were made and tickets were purchased [with the assistance of Karen Richter-Young at Travel One, Inc. (www.traveloneinc.com)] for Ms. Valdez to come to Minnesota and retrieve her son.

          On Tuesday, November 19, 2004, while Robin was obtaining the appropriate court orders with the “above the call of duty” assistance of many individuals at the Ramsey County (MN) Family Court Administrator’s Office, Ed was busy investigating the current location of Jacob. Through extensive investigation, an address was found that Jacob was believed to be temporarily staying at. With court orders in hand, Ed and Ms. Valdez began surveillance of the address developed.

          At approximately 3:40 p.m., Jacob exited the home with another individual. They entered a vehicle and left the area, with Jacob in the passenger’s seat of the vehicle. Ed immediately contacted the St. Paul Police Department and with the phenomenal assistance of an unnamed dispatcher, Sgt. Paul Iovino and another unnamed officer, the vehicle was stopped on Interstate 94 and a very emotional reunion occurred on the shoulder of the freeway.

          This case is a perfect example of how a TEAM working together can accomplish the miracle of a parent-child reunion. It is important to note that everyone played an important part in this case and all deserve special mention for the involvement:

Robin Dietz-Mayfield, Esq.
Ed Wunsch
Jeff Stender
Karen Richter-Young
Ramsey County Family Court Administrator’s Personnel
Sgt. Iovino, Unnamed Officer and Unnamed Dispatcher with the St. Paul Police Department
Many Others That Have Requested to Remain Anonymous

WE DO BRING THEM HOME!

Click here to read a moving Testimonial from Ms Valdez.