samanthajane13
07-23-2009, 12:35 PM
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer Christopher Sherman, Associated Press Writer – 17 mins ago
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Fort Hood-based soldier who was reported as a possible kidnap victim was found unharmed in a Texas border town and there was no indication he was ever abducted, an Army official said Thursday.
Pfc. James Gonzalez, 24, was taken into custody Wednesday night during a during a traffic stop in Laredo, said U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command spokesman Christopher Grey.
There are no indications that Gonzalez was abducted, Grey said in an e-mail. Law enforcement officials in Laredo were interviewing Gonzalez Thursday, and Grey said he'd be turned over to the Army's custody later that day.
The Gonzalez family had said they last saw him on July 11 at his mother's house in Robstown, near Corpus Christi. Then, on July 13, the Army contacted one of his relatives saying he had not reported for duty. The FBI later said the Army received a ransom call saying Gonzalez had been abducted and that the caller demanded $100,000 and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the border.
About 575 National Guard troops remain on the border, but thousands that had been patrolling the area withdrew last year.
Authorities contacted the family late Wednesday to say they had picked up Gonzalez. His mother, Rose Gonzalez, said Thursday she hadn't yet spoken to her son.
"I'm really relieved," she said. "That's all I prayed for — for him to be safe."
She said she was confused about the circumstances of his disappearance, but that the family expected to be told more later.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_soldier_found
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Fort Hood-based soldier who was reported as a possible kidnap victim was found unharmed in a Texas border town and there was no indication he was ever abducted, an Army official said Thursday.
Pfc. James Gonzalez, 24, was taken into custody Wednesday night during a during a traffic stop in Laredo, said U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command spokesman Christopher Grey.
There are no indications that Gonzalez was abducted, Grey said in an e-mail. Law enforcement officials in Laredo were interviewing Gonzalez Thursday, and Grey said he'd be turned over to the Army's custody later that day.
The Gonzalez family had said they last saw him on July 11 at his mother's house in Robstown, near Corpus Christi. Then, on July 13, the Army contacted one of his relatives saying he had not reported for duty. The FBI later said the Army received a ransom call saying Gonzalez had been abducted and that the caller demanded $100,000 and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the border.
About 575 National Guard troops remain on the border, but thousands that had been patrolling the area withdrew last year.
Authorities contacted the family late Wednesday to say they had picked up Gonzalez. His mother, Rose Gonzalez, said Thursday she hadn't yet spoken to her son.
"I'm really relieved," she said. "That's all I prayed for — for him to be safe."
She said she was confused about the circumstances of his disappearance, but that the family expected to be told more later.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090723/ap_on_re_us/us_texas_soldier_found