Police make two more arrests in Henderson kidnap case

Authorities have made two additional arrests in the recent kidnapping of a 17-year-old girl, Henderson police said Sunday.

Jose Sanchez-Perez, believed to be in his 20s, was arrested about 9:30 p.m. Saturday in Vallejo, Calif. Police said they made the arrest with the assistance of Vallejo police and a federal task force.

Sanchez-Perez was arrested on a federal warrant, police said. He is being held without bail in the Solano County jail in Fairfield, Calif., and is awaiting an extradition hearing.

On Wednesday, police tracked down Mariano Sanchez-Sanchez, 26, in a car on Bruce Street near Charleston Boulevard. Police linked both men to the Aug. 31 kidnapping of Melissa Duran at her Henderson home. She was rescued less than 24 hours later.

In total, four men linked to Duran's kidnapping have been arrested. The kidnappers were aiming for a $100,000 ransom, according to a police report.

Henderson police spokesman Keith Paul said detectives have worked tirelessly since the teenager was kidnapped. Two detectives flew to Vallejo in order to arrest Sanchez-Perez.

"For many people the case ended when Henderson police rescued Melissa Duran safely. For our detectives, the case didn't end until they arrested the fourth suspect Saturday night," Paul said.

On Sept. 1, police arrested Alejandro Manuel Sanchez-Sanchez, 25, and Cesar Sanchez, 30.

Police said they didn't publicize Wednesday's arrest of Mariano Sanchez-Sanchez to avoid compromising their investigation. He was booked at the Henderson Detention Center on kidnapping and extortion charges.

According to a Henderson police report, Duran was taken from her home to a dingy apartment, but she left a trail of clues.

Duran, who had seen the Las Vegas-themed "CSI" TV show, left some clothing in the kidnappers' car and a pair of her gold bracelets on a bathroom floor.

Police said Alejandro Manuel Sanchez-Sanchez and Cesar Sanchez snatched the girl from her home about 7:30 a.m. Aug. 31.

They called Duran's parents from a personal cellphone that was registered to one of the suspects at an apartment on Flower Avenue, near Stewart and Eastern avenues, in Las Vegas.

Officers staked out the complex and saw the suspects enter three separate units.

About 4:30 a.m. Sept. 1, Duran was rescued and the men were arrested during a SWAT raid. At least one of the men had worked with Duran's father, the report said.

Duran had been kept without food and water for more than 20 hours but was otherwise unharmed.

But police said the threat of violence was real. Duran had been tied up, and the kidnappers told her parents she would be killed.

Alejandro Manuel Sanchez-Sanchez and Cesar Sanchez are being held at the Henderson Detention Center without bail on a federal immigration hold.

Immigration holds keep inmates jailed for potential immigration violations, preventing their release pending trial if they post bond on criminal charges. They were booked into the Henderson jail on kidnapping, extortion and conspiracy charges.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638.