Arrest Made In Southern California Abduction
Police today arrested a 26-year-old Monrovia man they believed assisted in the abduction of two Anaheim boys by the children’s father and grandfather last week.
Anaheim officers said they arrested David Nicholas at his home in Monrovia, and booked him on suspicion of conspiracy for the Thursday kidnapping case. His bail was set at $1 million, said Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez.
“At this stage of our investigation, we will not be releasing any additional information about Mr. Nicholas’ role in this case,” Martinez said.
Anaheim police continued their search today for 4-year-old Jacob and 2- year-old Justin Quinones, who were abducted from their Anaheim home Thursday night.
Police recovered a Dodge Caravan used in the crime Friday after it was returned to a rental agency.
Initially police believed the suspects — Abraham Fernandez, 23, and Louis Mendoza Fernandez, 52, both of Houston — might be headed for Texas, but then said they believed they were still in California.
The Quinones boys were outside an apartment complex in the 3300 block of West Orange Avenue about 7:50 p.m. Thursday when they were grabbed, Anaheim police Sgt. Bob Dunn said last week.
The children were with their mother, who was taking out the trash, he said.
Two men got out of the van and each man grabbed a boy, he said. A witness may have kicked a dent into the van as it pulled away, Dunn said.
An Amber Alert was canceled when the van was recovered.
“We don’t know the whereabouts of the children and we’re very concerned,” Dunn said.
Justin and Jacob were both wearing Buzz Lightyear T-shirts and beige shorts, and Jacob was also wearing a gray, zippered sweatshirt, Dunn said.
Justin is about 2 feet 6 inches tall and 38 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Jacob is 3 feet tall and 62 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
Abraham Fernandez is light-skinned, about 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds, with long brown hair often pulled back in a ponytail. He had a mustache and maybe a goatee, and was wearing a black shirt, and jeans, Dunn said.
Louis Mendoza Fernandez is light-skinned, stocky with a gut, about 5 feet-9 inches and 175 pounds, with brown eyes and longer straight or scraggly brown hair. He was wearing a dark-colored baseball cap, light-colored shorts and white tennis shoes, Dunn said.
Anaheim police urged anyone with more information to call them at (714) 765-1900.
