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Published on 07/27/1998 All articles from this issue

Woman kidnapped in Los Altos Hills - arrest in Mexico

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Town Crier Staff Report

Wednesday was not an ordinary day for Lilia DeLacruz.

At about 10:15 a.m. on July 29 the 34-year-old was allegedly kidnapped from the home on Alexander Place in Los Altos Hills where she is employed as a domestic worker, said Lt. Cary Colla with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's office.

Her estranged husband, Victor Duarte, 41, "entered the residence and forced her out, threatening to kill her," Colla said.

Then he drove her to Tijuana, Mexico.

Once in Mexico, she had a chance to go to the restroom. When inside she shared "her plight" with another woman and asked the woman to call the police, Colla said.

Meanwhile, Duarte called relatives in East Palo Alto and told them, "I have her, please take care of the children," Colla said.

East Palo Alto Police contacted the sheriff's office and did a welfare check of the residence in Los Altos Hills, Colla said.

Sheriffs found her car. But DeLacruz was gone.

Police in Tijuana arrested Duarte and charged him with kidnapping, false imprisonment and assault and battery, according to the sheriff's department.

As of Friday, Duarte was in jail in Tijuana, awaiting a hearing, Colla said. And DeLacruz was back in the United States.

The Mexican government can try Duarte, Colla said, or he could be released back to the United States.

"Hopefully he will be returned to this country," Colla said.