L.A. County Judge Kidnapped In Colombia Is Rescued But His Whereabouts Unknown
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles County judge was kidnapped while visiting Colombia. He has been rescued, but his whereabouts are still unknown.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Benny Osorio was seen in a picture with a black eye soon after Colombian police came to his rescue.
He was kidnapped and held for ransom while vacationing in the South American nation. He was held for almost a week.
Sources told CBS2's Rachel Kim Osorio was in Colombia for a conference of the Mexican American Bar Association.
Police said the judge met a woman in the city of Cartagena. She gained his confidence, and he voluntarily followed her home.
Once there, the judge was held against his will by four people - two men and two women.
His captors demanded $33,000 in ransom for his release. Police said his family paid the ransom.
The judge was reportedly located and rescued by an elite anti-kidnapping unit.
A man who lives near the house where the judge was held said it's a nice neighborhood, and nothing like that has happened there before.
The four suspects were arrested and several firearms were seized.
As for the judge's whereabouts now, Colombian authorities would not say.
Osorio claimed that he was inhumanely abused. But one of the defense lawyers said there were inconsistencies in those claims.
He was appointed to the L.A. County Superior Court in 2008.
