Photo courtesy of espn.com
Major league baseball catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped from his home in Venezuela last night by four gunmen. Ramos had just finished his rookie season with the Washington Nationals, and was back in his hometown to play for the Aragua Tigers, in Venezuela’s winter league.
Kathe Vilera, a spokesperson for the Tigers took to her Twitter account last night to confirm the news:
“We are still waiting for any news about Wilson Ramos… all the authorities are working in the case… We need to be patience and pray.”
According to CBS news, Ramos, 24, was approached by four armed men and taken away in an SUV at about 6:45 p.m. last night.
A person close to Ramos’ family, who asked not to be quoted by name out of safety concerns, said the catcher was at home with his father and brothers when several men “entered the house and took him away.”
“As of this hour, there has been no contact” between the kidnappers and Ramos’ family, the person said.
Kidnappings like this in Venezuela are apparently quite common, with kidnappers often abducting wealthy people, and then demanding a large ransom. The fact that the family has not yet heard from the kidnappers yet is troubling, but hopefully they will hear something soon, and Ramos will be let go.
Updates will be posted below.
UPDATE: 11/10 10:40 AM
The Associated Press is reporting that the vehicle that was used to kidnap Ramos has been recovered from a nearby town. No word yet from his captors.
UPDATE: 11/11 11 PM
Wilson Ramos has been rescued, and is safe in Venezuela, according to CBSNews.com:
The kidnapping ordeal of Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos ended after two days when Venezuelan police commandos swooped in to rescue him in a flurry of gunfire and arrested five alleged abductors.
Ramos said he was happy and thankful to be alive, and that the final moments had been hair-raising as police and the kidnappers exchanged heavy fire in the remote mountainous area where he was being held.
The kidnappers reportedly told Ramos that they planned on asking for a big ransom from his family members, before he was rescued.
I just love a happy ending. 🙂
SOURCES:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57322219/nationals-wilson-ramos-kidnapped-in-venezuela/
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/americas/venezuela-mlb-player-kidnapped/index.html
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