Kidnap Suspect Heads to Mexico, Sister Says

A 22-year-old man who allegedly kidnapped a former girlfriend at gunpoint last week has since called his sister and told her he was heading to Mexico, police said.

Elias Valdovinos gave no other information during the telephone call late Saturday, and relatives of the 16-year-old victim have not heard from her, police said.

“We have no indication or reason to believe that the girl has been harmed,” said Orange Police Det. Matt Miller. “We’re told he wanted to be with her, marry her in fact.”

Josefina Camona Gonzales was working at American Graphite Technology Inc. about 12:30 p.m. Friday when Valdovinos, a fellow employee at the company, apparently put a gun to her head and forced her out of the building. His car was later found abandoned in Anaheim near North State College Boulevard and East La Palma Avenue.

Several co-workers told police the two had dated for about three months but that Gonzales had recently tried to end the relationship. After the third date, when the couple went dancing, Valdovinos announced his intent to marry her, Miller said.

“It hadn’t seemed like it was that serious of a relationship until then,” he said. “Of course her family wouldn’t allow her to get married.”

Police said that while they attempt to confirm whether Valdovinos actually went to Mexico with the girl, they will also check to see if he fled to Anaheim or to Oregon, where he has relatives. Before requesting help from Mexican authorities, police must know the suspect’s exact whereabouts, Miller said.

“If we can confirm he went to Mexico, we can try to find him,” he said. “But we can’t discount the possibility that he’s saying something just to throw us off.”

Police ask that anyone with information contact the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.