Felix Batista

Last updated
Felix Batista
Born
Felix I. Batista

Disappeared10 December 2008 (aged 55)
Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico
Status Missing for 16 years, 1 month and 10 days
Nationality American
Children5

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.

Contents

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. [6]

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

See also

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References

  1. Julieta, Martínez (21 February 2008). "Destaca México en número de secuestros" (in Spanish). El Universal . Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 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.