Man Released, Captors In Custody

Tue., Feb. 23, 1999

From Staff Reports

A 23-year-old Moses Lake man was returned to his family Monday after being kidnapped at gunpoint and held for ransom by a group of men who apparently wanted his roommate, Grant County Sheriff’s deputies said.

After negotiations, $11,000 was traded for Eduardo Sanchez and the men were captured, deputies said.

Deputies were called at about 1 a.m. Saturday to a Moses Lake home where Sanchez was abducted.

Sanchez was taken to the Tri-Cities and ransom demands of $23,000 were made. Negotiations with the kidnappers failed to reveal the location of Sanchez. The ransom was lowered to $11,000 and the family was instructed to exchange the money for Sanchez on Monday, deputies said.

The exchange took place in a Moses Lake parking lot and, after Sanchez was safe, deputies moved in and stopped the suspects on state Highway 17.

Five men were booked into the Grant County Jail on charges of first-degree kidnapping. They are 28-yearold Enrique De Santiago; Armando N. De Santiago, 25; Victor Diaz, 20; Epillio R. Ramirez, 22; and Pedro Caranza, 25, all of the Tri-Cities. Other charges are pending the completion of the investigation.

Deputies believe the kidnapping was in retaliation for the disappearance of narcotics. However, it was the roommate of Sanchez that the men wanted. Sanchez was not involved in any drug activity, deputies said.

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