Local News in Brief : Family Tracks Down Kidnaped Boy, 9
Relatives of a kidnaped 9-year-old Los Angeles boy took the investigation into their own hands and tracked him and his abductor to a Mexican train station where they grabbed him and returned him to his home early Friday, officials said.
“As far as an investigation goes, them finding him at that train station was a stroke of luck,” Sheriff’s Lt. Ron Herbst said.
Francisco Herrera was returned early Friday to his guardian and sister, Maria DeCornejo, 33, who last saw him at 7:30 a.m. Monday when she went to work, Deputy Roger Hom said.
Ernesto Magania, 39, who had rented DeCornejo’s garage apartment for 18 months, disappeared on the same day and was seen with the boy at his place of work. There, he introduced Francisco as his son and borrowed money from fellow workers, officials said. The two were then seen boarding a city bus about a block from where they lived in the Lennox area.
The relatives found Magania and Francisco at a train station in Mexicali where they confronted the alleged kidnaper, Hom said.
“Magania ran and escaped, but they were able to rescue the boy,” he said.
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