Aurora, Illinois – Authorities in Illinois have arrested a Texas woman accused of orchestrating a disturbing child abduction scheme involving two minors, with plans to smuggle them across the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to records from the 16th Judicial Circuit, Cindy Sanchez, 47, faces multiple charges including two counts of kidnapping by deceit or enticement, unlawful restraint, and child abduction – parent without custody.
Police say Sanchez was apprehended at Chicago’s Midway International Airport while attempting to board a flight with two children, aged 11 and 13. Both minors were safely recovered and returned to their family.
The investigation began Thursday afternoon when Aurora Police responded to a home on Rosewood Avenue, roughly 40 miles west of Chicago, after family members raised concerns of a possible double kidnapping.
“Officers arrived on scene and learned the two juveniles were staying with family at the time,” police said in a press release. “An unknown female arrived at their home and stated she needed to take the juveniles on their mother’s behalf to her location out of state.”
Authorities later discovered the children’s mother had never given consent for anyone to take them. By that time, Sanchez had already left with the two minors.
With assistance from the Chicago Police Department, investigators tracked the suspect to Midway Airport, where she was taken into custody without incident.
Police later revealed the alleged motive behind the abduction. Sanchez, a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, is related to the children’s father – who does not have legal custody.
“It was learned the children’s father, who does not have legal custody of the children, paid the suspect to bring the children to him in Mexico via the Texas border,” authorities confirmed.
Sanchez was booked into the Kane County Adult Justice Center on Friday. Court records show she was released the following day after a judge ordered her release during a court appearance.
She is scheduled to return to court for a status hearing on September 18.
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