Full Notification

Sheriff’s Major Crimes Detectives Safely Rescue a Kidnapped for Ransom Victim Two days later and Arrest Four Suspects

On Monday afternoon, August 4, 2014, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau became involved in a kidnap for ransom case. The victim, a 44-year-old female adult, had been forcibly kidnapped in the Rowland Heights area and a ransom demand of $110,000 dollars for her safe return had been made to a family member. The caller indicated that the victim would be harmed or killed if the ransom was not paid.

Approximately 25 Detectives initiated an around-the-clock investigation, and through investigative resources, developed several leads, which eventually focused on a multi-unit housing complex located in Rowland Heights.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the location and on Wednesday, August 6th, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the warrant was served. Detectives discovered the victim, who was bound and hidden in a dark, cluttered garage at the location. One of the victim’s captors, Suspect Francisco Inacua, who was guarding her at the time of the encounter, was immediately arrested. The victim obviously dazed and traumatized by the ordeal, emerged from the garage in tears, hugging one of detectives that had rescued her.

Quickly following the rescue of the victim and the arrest of Suspect Francisco Inacuna that same day, Detectives arrested Inacua’s sister, Suspect Rocio Inacua, and Rocio’s common-law husband, Suspect Uziel Figueroa, for their active involvement in the kidnapping of the victim. Ironically, it was Francisco Inacua, whose wife (Suspect Judith Maldonado) had befriended the victim while the two worked alongside each other for many years at a factory in the City of Industry, that had offered the victim a ride home following work after the victim had missed the bus to go home.

While driving the victim towards her home, Suspect Francisco Inacua coordinated the kidnapping with Suspect Rocio Inacua and Suspect Uziel Maldanado. Suspect Francisco Inacua pulled into a restaurant parking lot and exited the vehicle, while Suspect Rocio Inacua and Uziel Figueroa kidnapped the victim at gunpoint, forcing her to the floorboard of the vehicle. She was driven to the garage bound and blindfolded by duct tape, and kept in squalid conditions until her rescue two days later. Suspect Judith Maldanado was arrested the following day, and all of the suspects have admitted their role in kidnapping the victim. The motive appears to be for financial gain only.

34-year-old Francisco Inacua, 32-year-old Rocio Inacua, 32-year-old Uziel Figueroa and 40-year-old Judith Maldonado were charged with kidnapping for ransom and conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and remain incarcerated. All four suspects are residents of Rowland Heights. Bail has been set at $2 million.

The victim, who was deprived of food and water by her captors, was dehydrated and weak. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was treated and eventually released. She is expected to make a full recovery. The grateful victim was reunited with her family shortly after being rescued.

Detectives have filled the case with the District Attorney’s Office today and the suspect will be arraigned later this afternoon at the Criminal Courts Building in Downtown Los Angeles.

Prepared by:
Public Information Officer Nicole Nishida
(323) 810-1973
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
323-267-4800
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John L. Scott, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department