Thursday, January 8, 2009

Felix Batista, Anti Kidnapping Expert Is Himself Kidnapped While His Wife Pleas For His Life

Lourdes Batista, the wife of kidnapped security expert Felix Batista, has finally spoken out in public pleading with her husband's Mexican abductors to "please have mercy... Please let him go. Let him return to his family."

Batista, 55, disappeared December 10 from a restaurant in Mexico. Batista was considered an "anti-kidnapping expert." Perhaps he was not as much of an expert as he thought. Or perhaps he did not follow his own advice. The couple have been married 31 years and have five children. Lourdes Batista plead for the release of her husband

There have been no demands for ransom and no contact with the kidnappers. .
As an American security consultant, Batista has negotiated the release of kidnap victims in Latin America. He was in Mexico to participate in a kidnapping seminar when he was abducted. "The fact that he was purposely picked up and they haven't reached out to family is certainly worrisome," said Gary Noesner, former chief of the FBI crisis negotiation unit.

Update 8-14-09: A comment today seems to support the conclusion that Felix Batista has been murdered. His body has never been found. There has never been any public disclosure of any randsom demand.

8 comments:

Ms Calabaza said...

If it wasn't so sad, it'd be funny . . . sounds like he forgot to follow his own advice.

Anonymous said...

These Mexican dudes are bad asses!

Anonymous said...

So much drugs and money...

crime bound to follow, Homes.

Anonymous said...

Mexico is crooked!

Anonymous said...

IT IS SAD. AND NOT FUNNY. HE'S A GREAT MAN.

Anonymous said...

It is ironic. Not funny.

Anonymous said...

In December 2008, an FBI source … indicated that a Los Zetas commander orchestrated the kidnapping and subsequent murder of a US person in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The kidnappers believed the individual was a former law enforcement officer. The victim was decapitated with the intent to return his head to the United States to ’send a message.’”

The victime is believed to be Felix Batista.

The Cuban-American negotiator worked with a Houston firm, ASI Global, a security consulting firm that contracts out to executives working in foreign countries.Batista is a former major in the U.S. Army and only worked with ASI as an independent contractor.

Batista had arrived in Coahuila to give a presentation on kidnapping and security. His cell rang and he answered it, then he handed his laptop and bag to a companion along with a list of phone numbers and instructions on who to call if he didn’t return. Outside a car was waiting for him.

A surveillance tape recorded a man clapping him on the back as if they knew each other. Batista climbed in the car and disappeared.

A few months ago, Germán Torres Jiménez, was arrested in Veracruz. He was accused of controlling a slice of the Tamaulipas corridor for the Zetas. Torres was also implicated in Batista’s kidnapping.

Batista’s body has never been found. This is a dirty business, folks.

Anonymous said...

According to a snitch, in a report, the victim was picked up and murdered, then his killers intended to send his head back as a message to U.S. law enforcement.

While not verified, it seems probable.