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Possible Kidnap Ruse in Missing GI Case

No Indication Abduction Took Place, Soldier Arrested

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN
,
AP
posted: 5 HOURS 1 MINUTE AGO
comments: 215
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BROWNSVILLE, Texas (July 23) -- A Fort Hood-based soldier who was reported as a possible kidnap victim was found unharmed in a Texas border town and there was no indication he was ever abducted, an Army official said Thursday.
Pfc. James Gonzalez, 24, was taken into custody Wednesday night during a during a traffic stop in Laredo, said U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command spokesman Christopher Grey.
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Pfc. James Gonzalez
Webb County Sheriff's Dept.

Missing soldier James Gonzalez was taken into custody Wednesday night after he was found in Laredo, Texas, unharmed. His family claimed he had been kidnapped for ransom, but officials say there are no signs of abduction.

In a conflicting report, local law enforcement officials said Gonzalez was arrested at a house in Laredo that had been under surveillance, Fox News reported.
There are no indications that Gonzalez was abducted, Grey said in an e-mail. Law enforcement officials in Laredo were interviewing Gonzalez Thursday, and Grey said he'd be turned over to the Army's custody later that day.
A source not authorized to speak publicly told Fox News Wednesday that Gonzalez is facing charges of being absent without leave.
The Gonzalez family had said they last saw him on July 11 at his mother's house in Robstown, near Corpus Christi. Then, on July 13, the Army contacted one of his relatives saying he had not reported for duty. The FBI later said the Army received a ransom call saying Gonzalez had been abducted and that the caller demanded $100,000 and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the border.
About 575 National Guard troops remain on the border, but thousands that had been patrolling the area withdrew last year.
Authorities contacted the family late Wednesday to say they had picked up Gonzalez. His mother, Rose Gonzalez, said Thursday she hadn't yet spoken to her son.
"I'm really relieved," she said. "That's all I prayed for — for him to be safe."
She said she was confused about the circumstances of his disappearance, but that the family expected to be told more later.
Gonzalez was already facing legal troubles before the kidnapping reports. Fox News reported he missed a July 10 court date in an assault case his girlfriend brought against him.
Fox News further reported a source who claimed to know Gonzalez said the soldier was "disturbed." The source said Gonzalez had recently claimed to have been promoted, was seen driving a new car and said he had bought a new house in Laredo.
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Getting to the Truth
The Story: Rebeccah Beushausen wrote on a blog about being an unmarried mother who chose to carry a child with a fatal chromosomal disorder to term because of her deep Christian faith. The Truth: One of her followers recognized a photo of the baby as a doll, exposing her lies. Beushausen apologized in a blog post.
David Pierini, Chicago Tribune / MCT
David Pierini, Chicago Tribune / MCT
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2009-07-23 10:01:07
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WeeGardenr

06:35 PMJul 23 2009

This just makes me physically sick if he faked his own kidnapping. We have a young soldier in the hands of the Taliban and his fate is in serious jeopardy. How dare this guy fake something like this? If I was his mom he'd be sorry. Hopefully the army will take care of his sorry arse.

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Drew0518

06:34 PMJul 23 2009

Charge him with being AWOL....then sentence him to guard duty on the dmz in Korea during the winter.

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InspiringAngela

06:34 PMJul 23 2009

Establish the court martial and give the coward what he has coming. Too bad it ain't the $100,000 he was trying to steal from the government....

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(2)

Psykostx

06:33 PMJul 23 2009

If you are so tough down in Texas, why are you in Texas? Get your gun-toting asses to afghanistan...Mexicans are the hardest workers...its the white trash that are lazy and stupid... the only thing worse than a Texan, is a meth-head from Alabama. Take your rock smoking, zombie worshipping asses to the real fight... IN AFGHANISTAN! Actually, if you know what you are talking about, you'd know that Pharmaceutical companies are funding this war to gain 100% control of the Opium trade. Ever here of the Dutch East India Trading Company? Thats America!

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HoustonFirstSBC

06:33 PMJul 23 2009

Good question; yet no you do not have to be a US citizen to join the Military any more, in fact they use it as a path to citizenship. Also we now have people at approximately 30% in combat who are on Psychiatric Medications. That has been one of the sore points with Service Members and Officers for the last 5 years.--------------------------------------------Heliapple 06:24 PMJul 23 2009 I read some of the post here and I am confused. First, I thought you had to be a U.S. Citizen in order to join the military. Also, a person said he was "disturbed"? I thought a person was evaluated prior to joining the military.

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MIKE1962WALSH

06:31 PMJul 23 2009

NO PSYKOSTX,YOU DIDN'T JOIN THE MILITARY BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE 4-F COWARDS. TRUTH HURTS DON'T IT?

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Tigrillo31

06:29 PMJul 23 2009

the real americans are all native indians and mexicans they have indian blood running throu them . and this is mexico. sorry its the true . its not euopean.here your people brougt nothing but hate and risiiams . go back please .

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HoustonFirstSBC

06:29 PMJul 23 2009

Paint a yellow stripe down his back and make him walk across the dessert from where he came back to Mexico.

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MIKE1962WALSH

06:28 PMJul 23 2009

IT'S COWARDLY PUNKS LIKE THIS THAT CASTS A SHADOW ON THE MILITARY. COURT MARTIAL THIS PUNK AND THROW HIM IN THE BRIG FOR 50 YEARS. THERE IS NOTHING MORE SLEEZY THAN A PUNK LIKE THIS. THE HOODLUM PROBABLY HAD A RAP SHEET AS LONG AS YOUR ARM.

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Psykostx

06:28 PMJul 23 2009

Mgrauman, I definitely agree, only not about Mexicans, I would say Texans are the real pieces of shit.

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A Fort Hood-based soldier who was reported as a possible kidnap victim was found unharmed in a Texas border town and there was no indication he was ever abducted, an Army official said Thursday.