U.S. Expat kidnapped for ransom in Vilcabamba Ecuador, rescued, suspects include one American

Elmercurio.com reported that an American citizen was kidnapped in Vilcabamba Ecuador in Loja. The four assailants demanded a $400,000 ransom to secure her release.

The kidnapping according to the prosecutor was conducted Tuesday August 12, in Viclabamba. Apparently the womans partner and a man helping with translations for the couple were not taken. The victim was transported in her Toyota Land Cruiser. She was taken to Cuenca and was left in a cellar of a condominium on Fray Vicente Solandoa Avenue and avenida 27 de febrero. A security guard discovered the victim after hearing noises from the cellar. He phoned ECU-911 and summoned an ambulance. The female victim received an injury to one of her limbs.

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The anti-kidnapping unit began a search operation to track down the kidnappers. A suspect was detained on the afternoon of Wed. on via Loja-Vilcabamba. He is known as a translator for foreigners. The suspect had a note demanding the ransom by August 23, 2014, and if not delivered the victim would become a member of the missing person list. The money was to be delivered to the bus terminal in Guayaquil. Two other men were apprehended in El Oro and Jambeli adn in Puerto Bolivar.

The three male suspects are Ecuadorian and one female suspect is an American. The suspects have been accused of kidnapping for ransom. Under Article 162 of the new Penal Code the defendants may be sentenced from ten to thirteen years. Read Article