Family of 4 kidnapped at gunpoint in Westminster, safely return home
A family of four was kidnapped early Thursday morning after two suspects broke into its Westminster home and forced the family to leave at gunpoint.
The suspects, a husband and wife identified as Michael Alexander Rodriguez, 26, and Bich Dao Vo, 30, who goes by Michelle Rodriguez, broke into the residence located on the 14300 block of Pine Street before 3 a.m. on Thursday Oct. 27.
Michelle Rodriguez's six-month-old son and 14-year-old sister live at the home, where she and her husband were "under the impression there was a large sum of money in the house," according to police.
The adult male suspect pistol whipped three adult victims at the home after they failed to find any money. The suspects then loaded the family into a cargo van and drove them to a hotel in Costa Mesa, threatening them repeatedly in hopes of acquiring some form of money.
According to police, the adults were Michelle Rodriguez's 49-year-old mother, 22-year-old sister and her 22-year-old boyfriend.
Somehow, the three adults managed to escape the motel room but left the two minors behind, according to the Westminster Police Department. They contacted police who safely located the two children.
Both suspects were eventually arrested by Westminster PD after patrol officers spotted its getaway van in the area of Goldenwest Street and Westminster Blvd. A loaded .40 caliber handgun and a loaded AK-47 style rifle were found inside the suspect's vehicle.
On Friday, the couple was charged with four counts each of kidnapping to commit robbery, robbery, assault with a firearm and criminal threats, all felonies. They were also charged with a single count burglary and two counts of child abuse and endangerment.
Michael Rodriguez also faces sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury on the victims, and they both face sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a firearm