The Guadalajara Reporter

Girl snatched from mother’s arms recovered 300 miles from home

Nancy, the one-year-seven-month old infant who was snatched from her mother’s arms in Guadalajara on June 23, has been recovered and reunited with her parents.

Jalisco’s Attorney General Luis Carlos Najera said the girl was  found on July 17 “walking alone on the street” in San Mateo Atenco, near Toluca in the State of Mexico, and subsequently taken to the local Family Development Agency (DIF).

Najera said Nancy was found largely thanks to the Amber Alert issued shortly after Nancy’s disappearance. Staff at the San Mateo Atenco DIF thought they saw a resemblance to the girl in their care with Nancy’s photograph in the bulletin that was circulated widely around Mexico, he said.

The Amber Alert was one of the first issued since the program was adopted in the state of Jalisco. Najera commented that Nancy might never have been recovered if not for the system.

An Amber Alert coordinator and a State Human Rights Commission lawyer traveled to San Mateo Atenco on Thursday of last week to verify the child’s identity. They asked for various tests to be carried out, including comparative genetics, to ensure the girl was Nancy.

After being brought back to Guadalajara, Nancy was reunited with her parents and relatives at an emotional encounter at which Najera and other senior police officials were present.

During her 26 days away from home, Nancy’s hair had been cut, although she was not suffering from malnutrition.

Nancy’s mother said her daughter was snatched from her arms by unknown men as she was carrying her near the intersection of Avenida Lazaro Cardenas and Ocho de Julio in Guadalajara.  Investigators said they viewed 22 hours of video taken from seven nearby business but were unable to identify the suspects.

No one has yet been arrested in the case though Najera said investigations are continuing.

Nancy’s parents said they were planning to visit the Basilica of Zapopan to give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan for the safe return of their daughter. By MICHAEL FORBES

Nancy, the one-year-seven-month old infant who was snatched from her mother’s arms in Guadalajara on June 23, has been recovered and reunited with her parents.

Jalisco’s Attorney General Luis Carlos Najera said the girl was  found on July 17 “walking alone on the street” in San Mateo Atenco, near Toluca in the State of Mexico, and subsequently taken to the local Family Development Agency (DIF).

Najera said Nancy was found largely thanks to the Amber Alert issued shortly after Nancy’s disappearance. Staff at the San Mateo Atenco DIF thought they saw a resemblance to the girl in their care with Nancy’s photograph in the bulletin that was circulated widely around Mexico, he said.

The Amber Alert was one of the first issued since the program was adopted in the state of Jalisco. Najera commented that Nancy might never have been recovered if not for the system.

An Amber Alert coordinator and a State Human Rights Commission lawyer traveled to San Mateo Atenco on Thursday of last week to verify the child’s identity. They asked for various tests to be carried out, including comparative genetics, to ensure the girl was Nancy.

After being brought back to Guadalajara, Nancy was reunited with her parents and relatives at an emotional encounter at which Najera and other senior police officials were present.

During her 26 days away from home, Nancy’s hair had been cut, although she was not suffering from malnutrition.

Nancy’s mother said her daughter was snatched from her arms by unknown men as she was carrying her near the intersection of Avenida Lazaro Cardenas and Ocho de Julio in Guadalajara.  Investigators said they viewed 22 hours of video taken from seven nearby business but were unable to identify the suspects.

No one has yet been arrested in the case though Najera said investigations are continuing.

Nancy’s parents said they were planning to visit the Basilica of Zapopan to give thanks to the Virgin of Zapopan for the safe return of their daughter.