Son Pleads For Kidnapped Vallejo Woman's Safe Return
VALLEJO (CBS SF) – The son of a Vallejo woman kidnapped for ransom emotionally begged Tuesday for any information that would lead to his mother's safe return.
John Babb with his wife, Josie, by his side met with reporters as the intense search for his mother – 57-year-old Elvira Babb – continued even as four suspects in the case remained silent in their jail cells.
"I pray every day that I will see my mom again," he told reporters. "This has been a nightmare. She doesn't deserve this."
Elvira Babb was last seen June 29 by a co-worker who dropped her off at the Seafood City Market in Vallejo.
John Babb received a text message the next day demanding money, described as being under six figures, and threatening his mother's life if he did not comply or contacted police.
"I thought it was a joke," he told reporters of the text. "I texted that back. I didn't think it was real."
Unfortunately, the text was real and it was then that John Babb's nightmare began. The kidnappers texted back a ransom demand, but Babb's return text went unanswered.
John Babb went to his mother's home after receiving the text and found her Chihuahua dog dead. On July 1, he reported his mother's kidnapping to Vallejo police.
A weeklong investigation, which included the FBI, the Sacramento and Fairfield police departments, Solano County Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals Service, led authorities to Emmanuel Espinoza, 26, of Stockton, who was arrested in the Sacramento area and is considered the primary suspect.
Espinoza was an acquaintance of the Babb family though the extent of the relationship was not been revealed.
John Babb said his mother is not wealthy – "She could barely make her rent."
"We are not rich," he told reporters. "It (the kidnapping for ransom) makes no sense,"
John Babb said his mom was a fighter.
"I know my mom is a fighter because she taught me how to fight," he said. "So if you can hear me. I want you to fight and be strong. We will find you soon."
Meanwhile, Espinoza made his first court appearance on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping charges and was being held on $1 million bail.
The three other suspects -- , were Jalon Brown, 32, and Larry Young, 23, both of Sacramento, and Lovely Rauzol, 27, of Vallejo – were scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon.
