Man charged in kidnapping of pregnant Auburn woman found in Mexico

AUBURN, Wash. Washington state and federal prosecutors filed charges against one of the suspects allegedly involved in the case of a Auburn pregnant woman who was kidnapped and taken to Mexico in October.

Auburn police announced that a person had been arrested in Texas in connection with her disappearance. Detectives tracked 24-year-old Daniel Lopez in Texas with help from the FBI and other agencies.

Prosecutors have charged Lopez with first-degree kidnapping and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to charging documents.

Auburn police confirmed that authorities in Mexico have located the missing woman, Jackelin Perez, and that Mexican authorities are working with Guatemalan authorities to return Perez to the country. Police said Perez was found earlier this week, but it took some time to confirm it was her and that she was safe.

Police said search efforts were underway to find Perez in Guatemala, Mexico, Texas and Washington.

In October, police said Perez, who was six weeks pregnant, was “forcibly removed” and disappeared from her apartment at 2014 I St. NE in north Auburn on Oct. 13 between 6 and 7 p.m. Investigators said Perez’s husband arrived home about 20 minutes after the disappearance. However, he did not call the police to report her disappearance until the next morning.

One of the men who allegedly kidnapped her was Lopez.

According to charging documents, a witness saw two men enter Perez’s apartment and then threatened the witnesses with a firearm before the men took her in an “extremely violent kidnapping.”

According to documents, investigators were able to trace the license plate number back to Lopez, who was found near a hotel in Houston, Texas.

FBI agents and local law enforcement were still searching for other suspects believed to be connected to Perez’s disappearance.

Lopez was extradited to Washington, where he pleaded guilty to all charges.

He remained in custody on $1,000,000 bail.