Two children missing from Avon who were the subject of a nationwide Amber Alert after it was believed they’d been kidnapped by a sex offender have been found safe in Honduras, where they went to live with family members, authorities said Tuesday.
Jessica Garcia, 15, and her brother, Jose Luis Cerrato, 11, disappeared Aug. 11, along with her mother’s boyfriend, Pedro Rodriguez, an unregistered sex offender whom law-enforcement officers said was a threat to their safety.
But the children and their aunt, Elizabeth Oneida, traveled by Greyhound bus only as far as Texas with Rodriguez, crossing the border at El Paso on foot without him, according to Avon police.
From there, the three took a bus across Mexico and completed the journey by taxi to their grandmother’s home, where they had lived most of their lives.
“It’s OK. They’re with my mom,” said their relieved mother, Hilda Vargas. “I was happy. My babies are good. No problems, nothing.”
According to police, Jessica and Jose Luis had lived with their grandmother in Honduras until two years ago. Together with Oneida they decided Aug. 11 to leave Avon and return to Honduras while their mother was at work.
“Everybody is happy and healthy,” said Mark Hurlbert, the district attorney.
Hurlbert has decided to drop the warrant for kidnapping against Rodriguez, although he may still level charges for failing to register as a sex offender, a misdemeanor.
Jessica told her mother by telephone that Rodriguez had not assaulted her, and that she left of her own volition.
“We are happy that the children are in safe hands, and that Rodriguez did not re-offend,” said Avon Police Chief Brian Kozak.
Although neither Oneida nor Rodriguez had permission to take the children, authorities will not attempt to bring them back to their mother because they are with relatives and their immigration status could not be confirmed.
Vargas said she did not know when she would be reunited with her children, but she was no longer terrified about what had happened to them.
She said she doesn’t know where Rodriguez is, and she doesn’t expect to see him again.
Staff writer Steve Lipsher can be reached at 970-513-9495 or slipsher@denverpost.com.
