On 09/02/2021, The Clermont Police Department Detective Division received a phone call from Angelica Vences-Salgado, who is the mother of a juvenile victim abducted from her home in 2007. Angelica stated that she was contacted via social media by a female claiming to be her abducted daughter Jacqueline Hernandez. The female told her she was in Mexico and requested that she meet her at the Point of Entry located at the border in Texas on 09/10/2021.
With the assistance of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, detectives contacted Central Florida Intelligence Exchange in Orlando, Florida. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Orlando, Florida coordinated with HSI in Laredo, Texas, through the CFIX and coordinated a plan to intercept the victim and to determine if the identity of the female was the victim in this case.
On 09/10/2021, Clermont detectives discovered that Angelica and the female were both at the Point of Entry located in Laredo, Texas. This updated information was passed onto HSI in Orlando, Florida. They spoke with HSI in Laredo to make them aware of the situation.
At approximately 1:50 pm, HSI, US Customs and Border Protection, and Laredo Police Department intercepted the mother Angelica and the female claiming to be the victim.
Based on the documentation provided to these agencies by Angelica and Clermont Police Department, they determined that the female was indeed Jacqueline Hernandez who was abducted from her mother in 2007. At approximately 4:55 pm, Jacqueline, now 19 years old was successfully reunited with her mother.
The Clermont Police Department would like to thank the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, HSI in Orlando and Laredo, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), US Customs and Border Protection as well as Laredo Police Department in Texas for their help. Without their assistance and dedication, this reunification would not have been possible.
“This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when multiple law enforcement agencies and their respective communities work cooperatively together and maintain open lines of communication. In this case, several agencies in different counties and states across the nation were able to create a force multiplier and aid in reuniting the victim with her mother after 14 years” said Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway.
“A kidnapped daughter was reunited with her mother as a result of enforcement working together,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “This is a great example of how strong partnerships in law-enforcement can work to solve problems no matter the complexity or distance.”
