Woman Held in Kidnaping of 6-Year-Old

A 38-year-old woman described by Los Angeles police as a transient was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of kidnaping a 6-year-old boy from his parents’ home in Van Nuys, where the woman had been staying as a guest.

The boy, Alex Romero, also known as Maynor Arrevillega, was found by police more than seven hours after his parents reported him missing at an apartment in the 20900 block of Roscoe Boulevard in Canoga Park, said Detective Mel Arnold of the Van Nuys Division of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Rosalidia Rodriguez Ladaverde, who had been living with the boy’s family for about three weeks, was arrested at the same apartment, Arnold said. He said someone tipped police that the Canoga Park apartment was a place that Ladaverde frequented.

Seen by Neighbors

Neighbors told police that they had seen Ladaverde leave the house with the crying youngster about 9 a.m. Tuesday, Arnold said.

The boy’s parents contacted police about noon, saying they had not given Ladaverde permission to take him out, the detective said.

Police set up a command post at the family’s house. About 40 officers, including a helicopter patrol, searched the neighborhood, Arnold said.

He said the child was unharmed and was checked by a doctor before being released to his parents.

Ladaverde is being held at the Van Nuys Jail on $6,000 bail.