Felix Batista

This article is about the security consultant. For the poet, see León Félix Batista.

Felix Batista
Born	Felix I. Batista Houston, Texas, United States
Disappeared	10 December 2008 (aged 55) Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Status	Missing for 17 years, 2 months and 3 days
Children	5

Felix I. Batista (disappeared 10 December 2008) is a Cuban-American ^[1] anti-kidnapping expert and former U.S. Army major who has negotiated resolution to nearly 100 kidnapping and ransom cases, ^[2] dozens of them in Mexico. ^[3] Batista was a consultant for Houston, Texas-based security firm ASI Global. ^[2] In December 2008, he was kidnapped in Mexico.

Kidnapping

On 10 December 2008, Batista was kidnapped outside a restaurant in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico by unknown assailants ^[2] while there to speak and give anti-kidnapping advice. ^[4]

Batista was working as a negotiator to secure the release of a friend of his, while he was in a restaurant with several other people he received a phone call advising that the victim had been released and a car was being sent for him. As Batista left the restaurant he was forced into a Jeep by a group of four people who had been waiting for him. An hour later the kidnapping victim was released. ^[5]

Since then, no one has had any communication with him and no one has ever claimed responsibility for his kidnapping as of September 2024 ^[update] . ^[6]

A statement from Batista's family said there was no sign of violence at the scene. ^[7]

See also

• List of people who disappeared mysteriously (2000–present)

References

1. Julieta, Martínez (21 February 2008). "Destaca México en número de secuestros" (in Spanish). El Universal . Retrieved 15 December 2008.
2. Stevenson, Mark (2008-12-15). "US anti-kidnapping expert kidnapped in Mexico". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
3. "Kidnappings soar in Mexico". AZ Central. 23 April 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
4. Lacey, Marc (16 December 2008). "Anti-kidnapping consultant kidnapped in Mexico". The New York Times.
5. "Felix Batista". FBI . Retrieved 4 September 2017.
6. Nolan, Caitlin (8 December 2016). "Family Still Searching for Answers, 8 Years After Anti-Kidnapping Expert Was Kidnapped". Inside Edition. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
7. "'Please have mercy,' wife begs kidnappers - CNN.com". CNN. 7 January 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.