A man wanted in the kidnapping of a South Florida teen, with whom he had a romantic relationship, was taken into custody in Virginia, police said Monday.
Pembroke Pines police said that Jaddier T. Sanchez, 37, was taken into custody early Monday. The 18-year-old he is accused of kidnapping, Nicole Martinez, was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries, police said.
"No one would have imagined that this would have ever happened, especially to our family," Giselle Rodriguez, Martinez's aunt, told NBC 6. "We are very tight-knit ... We didn’t know him.”
The incident began early Sunday morning when Sanchez confronted the woman and her parents as they returned to their home in Pembroke Pines. He forced them at gunpoint into their pickup truck and drove them to several banks to get cash from ATMs, police said.
He continued on to Belle Glade in Palm Beach County, where he left the parents on the side of the road and then left in the stolen vehicle with Martinez.
Early Monday morning, police say the duo were spotted in Alexandria, Virginia, and stopped. Sanchez was taken into custody while Martinez was taken to an area hospital to be treated for injuries.
"We’ve just been letting her rest," Rodriguez said. "I haven’t had a chance to speak to her. But I know that mentally and physically she’s doing good and she’s just resting."
Local
At one point, Sanchez and Martinez had been in a romantic relationship with each other, police confirmed. Martinez's aunt said the family was aware they had had some sort of relationship but thought it was over.
Sanchez was previously released from prison back in May. He faces state charges involving armed robbery, armed kidnapping and armed carjacking. He may face federal charges as well.
