Mexican Singer’s Abducted Sister Freed

Kidnappers released Laura Zapata, sister of Mexican actress and pop singer Thalia, after holding her for 18 days, Mexico City’s attorney general said Friday. Ernestina Sodi, another sister of Thalia’s who was kidnapped with Zapata on Sept. 22, was still being held, but Mexico City Atty. Gen. Bernardo Batiz said family members hoped she also would soon be freed.

“The chief of police has told me that [Zapata] showed up” Thursday, Batiz said at a news conference. A spokesman at the attorney general’s office said she was with her family. Batiz offered no other details.

The Zapata family has refused to speak to reporters or file an official report on the disappearance of the sisters. Family members hired a private team to carry out negotiations with the kidnappers and asked police to stay out of the case, Batiz said.

He added that police were ready to help if the family requested assistance.

Police found Zapata’s car abandoned on a Mexico City road after she and Sodi left a play in which Zapata had a starring role. Media reports quoted unidentified witnesses as saying the two were followed and ambushed at a stoplight, but police would not confirm the reports.

Shanik Berman, a journalist and friend of Zapata’s, had said kidnappers were demanding a ransom of $1 million for the release of the women. It was unclear if any ransom was paid.

Thalia, married to Sony Music Entertainment Chairman Tommy Mottola, was in Mexico after the kidnappings but did not want to talk to police or the media, Berman said.

Batiz said authorities would be very careful about trying to talk with Zapata because they did not want to put Sodi’s life in danger.