The kidnapping of a 13‑month‑old baby in Nuévalos, a town near Zaragoza, is the subject of a tightly planned operation rather than a sudden act. Reports from El Periódico de Aragón, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, identify the arrest as the culmination of a carefully orchestrated scheme. An adviser close to the case described the influence of a prominent figure who helped shape the plan, though this individual was not formally charged. The child remains with his mother as authorities review custody arrangements, while the paternal grandfather and the father, both aged 67 and 28 respectively, are in custody in Zuera prison.
During a press briefing, officials outlined key facts supporting the criminal organization accusations against the four detainees. Commanding officers from the Civil Guard in Zaragoza, including Colonel José Antonio Mignorance and Captain Rojas of the Zaragoza Judicial Police, explained that they feared for the child’s life if the abduction served as leverage for violence against the mother. Captain Rojas stated that the armed services mobilized fully, notifying other commanders and the National Police as events unfolded. The child was ultimately recovered unharmed within 24 hours, and those responsible for the abduction were detained.
Investigators traced the child’s family movements through social media, noting a June separation between the boy’s parents and ex-wife, followed by relocation to Zaragoza with the paternal grandparents on October 11. Despite hotel shortages during the Pilar festivities, two locations were found in the monastery parking area where the group spent the night before the kidnapping. By 18:44, they fled toward the Community of Madrid, choosing routes that avoided main roads to evade traffic cameras.
Photos from the press conference captured moments of the unfolding case. On Thursday, October 13, after mother and baby were located, violence occurred before the group fled in a vehicle belonging to the parents. They sought shelter with a trusted friend in Madrid, who provided resources to aid their concealment for an undetermined period. The friend supplied a green Volkswagen Tuareg and a garage with space for the getaway vehicle, a detail that later drew attention as the car’s location remained unresolved by authorities.
A dedicated cell phone was obtained solely for communicating about the child, a measure intended to prevent detection by security forces. The captain noted that the friend also took on duties to ensure the child’s care while hiding from law enforcement. The grandmother allegedly offered financial support for the child’s care and advised the group on legal steps, coordinating the effort to evade the justice system.
The abduction appeared to proceed with a sense of legality to those involved, creating a deceptive narrative around the child’s removal. The police identified that the Madrid-based lawyer who advised the family played a significant role in steering actions and shielding the group from law enforcement.
In a separate section of the investigation, a brother of the child’s father is linked to editing video footage recorded by the grandfather and offering counsel to avoid detection. The Civil Guard noted that the younger mother may have instigated the show of force before regretting the decision to leave the child with the father.
previous abduction
In parallel, the Calatayud Civil Court of First Instance earlier withdrew from the case in favor of the Violence Against Women court in Ibiza. The mother asserted threats, coercion and mistreatment, claiming that messages and geolocation data connected to the ex-partner were exploited. The report suggests a phishing scheme targeted at a banking institution to compromise the mother’s phone, enabling continued surveillance and control.
Beyond the main incident, the timeline includes earlier violence against the mother, with a motorcycle pursuit on August 17 and a kidnapping attempt near San Antonio Abad on August 19.
accusations
As the investigation progressed, four individuals faced multiple charges: the father as the principal actor in the abduction, alleged membership in a criminal group, the child’s abduction, gender-based violence, and injuries. The grandfather, identified as a co‑perpetrator, faced charges of being part of a criminal group, the minor’s abduction, and serious injury. The grandmother and a trusted family associate were charged with belonging to a criminal group and abducting the child. The four were brought before the Calatayud Court, with the father and grandfather remanded to Zuera prison. Investigators continue to pursue a fifth potential participant in what the police describe as a coordinated family scheme.
The case has drawn continued attention as authorities work to piece together the network of actions and dependencies that enabled the operation, including the roles of family members and the individuals who aided in hiding the child and evading arrest. The investigation remains active as prosecutors prepare further filings and the court presides over ongoing proceedings.