California Woman Abducted in Mexico Last Year, Released by Kidnappers
After eight long months, the family of a California woman, who was abducted in Mexico, has finally received the long-awaited news they had been hoping for—she is coming back home. ULISES RUIZ/AFP via Getty Images

Monica De Leon Barba, a California woman kidnapped in Mexico last November while walking home, has been freed by her captors and has arrived in the US, according to the FBI in San Francisco, per CNN.

In a Twitter post, the FBI announced that De Leon Barba is safe and en route to the US, where she will be reunited with her family and dog after spending eight months in captivity.

De Leon Barba was released by her captors on Friday night.

Previously, the FBI had offered a reward of up to $40,000 for any information leading to the location of De Leon Barba.

The award announcement in March marked the FBI's first public acknowledgment of its investigation into the kidnapping.

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation into the captors' identity is ongoing, according to the FBI's social media post on Saturday.

FBI special agent in charge Robert K. Tripp stated in a Twitter statement that while the investigation is far from over, they can now continue working on the case with the knowledge that an innocent victim has been reunited with her family.

California Woman's Kidnapping in Mexico

Monica de Leon Barba, a 29-year-old US citizen, was reported missing on November 29, 2022, in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, while she was walking her dog, according to SFGate.

Surveillance footage released by the FBI depicted Barba being confronted by multiple suspects before being forcibly taken inside a silver Volkswagen Jetta.

The suspects fled the scene in three vehicles, including the Jetta, a gray Dodge Charger, and a white Chevrolet Suburban, while her dog roamed freely in the street.

According to the FBI's news release, the videos indicated the involvement of at least five suspects in the kidnapping.

Authorities believed that Barba was a victim of a targeted kidnapping and being held captive against her will.

The California woman, originally from Jalisco, held US citizenship and had been spending most of her time there since June 2022, as stated by the FBI's San Francisco Field Office.

In a previous statement to SFGATE, Barba's brother, Gustavo de Leon, mentioned that her 20-year-old cousin, Gael de Leon, was also abducted in Guadalajara just hours after Barba's disappearance.

California Woman's Friends, Family Celebrate Her Return

There is a profound sense of relief for Monica De Leon Barba, her friends, and her family as she is finally safe and returning home.

Monica De Leon Barba's friend Anissa Livas expressed collective relief, stating that the next day would be happier and everyone could breathe a little easier.

Livas took a leading role in advocating for De Leon Barba's safe return, applying pressure on various officials, from local authorities to President Biden, ABC News noted.

Gustavo, De Leon Barba's brother, shared a photo on Saturday of himself and his sister on a plane, expressing gratitude to everyone who supported their family throughout the ordeal.

He mentioned that they could finally close this distressing chapter in their lives and begin the journey of healing.

While the family is not ready to speak publicly, they have permitted their friends to share their experiences.

Valerie Sherwood, another friend of De Leon Barba, expressed incredible relief after the intense and exhausting eight months, emphasizing the joy that Monica is safe and back home.

Monica De Leon Barba's friends understand that she may need space and time to process her experience. Still, they eagerly await her return while respecting her need for privacy.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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