Three men charged after 9-year-old gets ride to McDonald’s in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office was asked to look into a 9-year-old girl leaving their home and being taken for a ride with a group including three men in an SUV.

The ensuing investigation, which began on Thursday, July 3, led to multiple men being charged in connection with the case.

Jose Cid-Alvardo, 21 and Lesther Vilorio Santana, 20 were charged with with one count of aggravated kidnapping and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.

Nilson Torrez was also charged with one count of aggravated kidnapping, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, and one count of resisting an officer.

EBRSO said that the 9-year-old climbed out of her bedroom window and was identified as missing. A witness said they saw her leave the home and get into a white SUV around 1 a.m.

The parents of the girl said she was communicating with an unidentified individual through Instagram. One of the messages stated that someone was outside and the girl should leave the home without telling her parents.

A neighbor saw the SUV and notified deputies who were on the scene. The vehicle was found not too far from the 9-year-old’s home. She was found in the SUV along with four males.

One of those males was a 14-year-old who was handed over to his mother pending further investigation, EBRSO said.

The other men were eventually taken to EBRSO headquarters. Santana told police that the 14-year-old messaged him and asked to be picked up. The teen wanted them to pick up his friend so they could go to McDonald’s, according to the affidavit.

Santana said he agreed to do so after learning the teen would pay him $20 for gas money, EBRSO said.

They went to the 9-year-old’s house after picking up the teen. The girl got in the car and they drove to McDonald’s. Santana said when they arrived there he noticed that the girl did not look 14.

Santana was on the way back to the girl’s house when he saw EBRSO units and kept going. Soon after, a traffic stop was initiated and the 9-year-old was found in the SUV.

All three men were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Thursday, July 3.

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