Local boy kidnapped from grandmother's arms
by Jonathan Partridge | Patterson Irrigator Patterson Irrigator
Jan 18, 2011
A 4-year-old boy was abducted from a Patterson home Tuesday afternoon, with the suspect believed to be heading toward his mother's house in San Jose.
Juliani Cardenas was torn from his grandmother's arms at 4:12 p.m. on the 300 block of Barros Street by Jose Esteban Rodriguez, 27, the ex-boyfriend of Cardenas' mother, according to Patterson Police Services and witnesses.
"He says, 'Give me the baby; give me the baby,' then he pushed me down," his grandmother, Amparo Cardenas, said from her home late Tuesday.
She said she was near the doorway inside her garage when she saw Rodriguez rush toward her from the driveway and knock her over.
Next-door neighbors Dale and Darlene Vanderbilt heard Amparo Cardenas scream, and Dale immediately called police after seeing Rodriguez drive off, Darlene said. An officer arrived on the scene within minutes, she said.
Patterson police issued an Amber Alert to put authorities on notice throughout the state.
Rodriguez was last seen driving a silver Toyota Corolla, with a California license plate of 6HBW445. The car is said to contain oversize aluminum wheels and the left rear wheel is a smaller spare wheel.
Local police are coordinating their search efforts with the FBI, Patterson Police Chief Tori Hughes said. As of 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, police had no other updates on the case, she said.
Rodriguez, who lives in Modesto, had been stalking the Cardenas family since the previous evening, according to friends and family. He knocked on Amparo Cardenas' bedroom window late Monday night and loitered on the Del Puerto Preschool campus where Juliani attends school on Tuesday, Amparo Cardenas and witnesses said. He also knocked once and then entered the Cardenas' home earlier Tuesday.
Rodriguez believes that Juliani is his boy, but that's not the case, Amparo Cardenas said.
Rodriguez used to live at the Barros Street residence along with Juliani's mother, Tabitha, but he left at least a year ago, she said.
City Council members Annette Smith and Deborah Novelli, joined neighbors and friends in comforting Amparo Cardenas on Tuesday evening. Both women know the elder Cardenas from her job as a waitress at Damasco Fine Foods and Spirits.
"She's so supportive; she's like a mother," said Smith, who lives around the corner from the Cardenas family.
Novelli said she was glad to see a Stanislaus County Sheriff's patrol car on hand throughout the evening, adding that many local police stayed after their 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shifts to help.
"It speaks to the heart of the community," Novelli said.
Juliani's grandmother hopes her grandson does not retain memories of the event, and she is praying for his safe return. He was crying as Rodriguez ran off and carried him to his car, she said.
Juliani is Hispanic with black hair and brown eyes, according to police. He is 3 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 40 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark pants and a light blue shirt.
Rodriguez, a Hispanic male, is 5 feet, 9 inches tall and 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white and black shirt, checkered shorts and a beanie.
Anyone who sees the boy or the suspect is asked to contact Sgt. Joe Camarda at 380-6015.
Read more: Patterson Irrigator - Local boy kidnapped from grandmother s arms 
Thu Jan 20, 2011 9:38 am