Kidnapped San Jose infant Brandon Alexis Cuellar found
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Kidnapped three-month-old Brandon Alexis Cuellar was located by San Jose police early Tuesday and three suspects were in custody who police said were somehow connected to the child's family.
Those arrested include a masked man seen on surveillance video with a baby carrier and a woman who had been detained hours before as a "person of interest" in the case.
San Jose Assistant Police Chief Paul Joseph said investigators believe they have the male suspect seen on a surveillance video in custody.
"We know there is some connection to the family, but we don't know exactly what that connection is," he said. "That will be determined during the course of the investigation."
Joseph said the "baby was in good condition, being checked out at a local hospital, but unharmed."
At a 9 a.m. news conference, San Jose police spokesman Sgt. Christian Camarillo said the woman was with the abducted child's grandmother before the infant was taken. The grandmother was taking care of the baby while the mother was at work and she had left the baby inside their apartment and was getting groceries from the car.
When she came back, the grandmother said the baby was gone.
"This was a person who was with the grandmother yesterday when they went shopping, she was present at the apartment complex when this happened," he told reporters. "There have been some inconsistencies with what she has told us. Obviously, drawing our attention to what she knows about this."
Raw Video: San Jose police press conference on kidnapped baby found
Camarillo did not disclose what, if any, relationship the woman may have had with the man seen leaving the complex with the child in a baby carrier. He said the suspect brought the carrier with him, calling the abduction "something planned, premeditated."
He also could not confirm if the abduction was related to a family dispute.
Meanwhile, an FBI forensic team swarmed over a San Jose apartment complex and the surrounding neighborhood early Tuesday, searching for any clues in the abduction.
The CHP tweeted out a photo and description of a possible suspect vehicle, but within an hour Camarillo asked for it to be taken down saying "it will compromise" their investigation.
"Our agency will provide the most accurate timely information," SJPD tweeted. "We are actively working leads. We know there is a need for information, but we also need to maintain the integrity of this investigation. The number one unwavering goal is to get baby Brandon home."
The CHP deleted their tweet.
San Jose police said they received the call about the kidnapping from a residence on the 1000 block of Elm Street at around 1 p.m. Monday.
Investigators tweeted out images and video of a male suspect seen entering the residence in surveillance video and leaving with the baby in what appeared to be a carrier covered with a blanket.
** Kidnapping Incident**
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) April 26, 2022
Officers are currently working this incident. The male you see in these images captured from a surveillance camera entered a residence in the 1000 block of Elm St.
He left with a 3 month old baby. The family does not recognize this suspect. pic.twitter.com/BJ0R44JOP2
The family did not recognize the suspect described as a "dark" Hispanic male wearing black pants, a dark blue shirt, grey shoes with white trim, a grey baseball hat, and a black face mask. The suspect also has short hair.
The baby carrier is black in color with a white blanket. The baby, Alexis Cuellar, was wearing a white long sleeve onesie with grey dinosaurs on it.
According to investigators, the baby was being watched by his grandmother while his mother was at work. The grandmother had taken the baby into an apartment after shopping for groceries. After going back to her car to retrieve more groceries, she returned moments later and the baby was gone.
The baby's father is currently incarcerated, but investigators said they didn't know if the father being incarcerated played into the kidnapping. They would be speaking to him soon.
"Right now, we have every available resource not only out in the field but here at the police department working this case," said SJPD Sgt. Christian Camarillo during the press briefing.
Later on Monday, the FBI began providing resources and sent agents from its Child Abduction Response Team to the scene. They meticulously searched the apartment building for clues.
Police officers, including members of the department's gang unit, approached a small apartment complex on the 2300 block of Mather Drive Tuesday morning.
A person working at a skilled nursing facility across the street says one of his employees recognized a vehicle authorities had notified the public about and called in a tip.
"We looked for video evidence, witnesses saw some things," said Joseph. "There was a variety of factors to solve his case."
Law enforcement officials say baby Brandon was found inside the apartment unharmed and taken to a local hospital to be reunited with family. Authorities took away one man from the apartment.
Neighbors saw the baby being carried out by authorities.
"It almost sounded like a joyous cry and it sounded like a giggle," said neighbor Chris Martinez. "Sometimes these incidents turn out to be the worst. But today is a good day,"
SJPD confirmed the person seen in the video is one of the three suspects in custody.
The mother of the baby did not want to talk to reporters and was asking for privacy at this time.
In the meantime, parents in the neighborhood are holding their children a bit tighter.
"I have two kids, and I feel bad about the mother. I need to pay more attention to my kids they like to play outside and run outside," said one neighbor.
"As a mother, I can say like wow I don't know how they feel, how the family feel, I can't imagine," said Laura Torres.
"My big daughter every day play over there, so now my big daughter very scared, so she stay in the home," said Jasvir Rai who lives in the area.
Kenny Choi contributed to this report.