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A 34-year-old Cuban woman was arrested in Miami after illegally taking her six-year-old son during a supervised visit.
The incident triggered an intense police search that included the activation of an Amber Alert throughout the state starting this Thursday.
However, the authorities managed to find the minor safe and sound hours later.
Ismari Figueroa León, mother of the minor Ryan Artiles Figueroa, is now facing charges of interference with parental custody, a crime classified as a felony in the state of Florida.
The kidnapping during a supervised visit
According to a report from the Miami Police Department, the incident occurred on Thursday just before 6:00 p.m., during a supervised visit at the South Florida Family Resource Center, located at 1393 SW First St., in Little Havana.
According to Local 10 News, the visit was being monitored by a designated specialist, who told detectives that Figueroa León abruptly took the child and fled east along Southwest First Avenue.
The specialist tried to follow her, but lost sight of her near Southwest 13th Avenue and immediately called 911 to report the kidnapping.
The investigation was strengthened by a surveillance video recovered by the police, which shows the woman running with the child in her arms in the same direction described. That same night, an Amber Alert was issued for Ryan Artiles, notifying the public that he may be being transported in a black 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.
Tracking and arrest
According to the authorities, shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Friday, Figueroa León called the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office (MDSO) through a recorded line and asked: "Why am I on an Amber Alert?"
That call allowed them to track his location to the area of Northeast 14th Avenue and Ives Dairy Road.
MDSO agents arrived at the scene, managed to apprehend Figueroa León, and rescued the minor, who showed no signs of injury, according to the officers' confirmation.
Both were taken to the Special Victims Unit of the department to continue the investigation.
Without legal custody and with eviction history
According to reports obtained from Telemundo 51, Figueroa León does not have legal custody of the minor - for reasons that have not been disclosed - and since March has only been allowed to maintain contact with her son through supervised visits.
The authorities emphasized that, although he had never missed one of these visits, it was the first time he attempted to take the child without authorization.
Neighbors of the residence where Figueroa León recently lived told authorities that she stopped paying rent and that they never saw a child living with her. Furthermore, according to the testimonies collected, an eviction order had been processed in April.
Arrest and judicial process
Figueroa León was officially arrested at 5:18 a.m. on Friday and taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK), where she remains in custody.
Judge Mindy S. Glazer, in charge of the case, denied his release without bail and set a bond of $2,500.
During the interrogation, which took place around 3:00 a.m. and was recorded on video, the accused was read their Miranda rights in Spanish and chose to exercise their right to remain silent.
The minor was handed over to the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which will assess the next steps regarding their custody and protection.
As of the closing of this report, no other details about the case have emerged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Parental Kidnapping in Miami
What happened to the Cuban mother arrested in Miami?
Ismari Figueroa León, a Cuban mother, was arrested in Miami for illegally taking her six-year-old son during a supervised visit. She faces charges of interfering with parental custody, a felony in the state of Florida.
How was the child rescued after the parental kidnapping?
After the kidnapping, authorities issued an Amber Alert and were able to track Figueroa León thanks to a call he made to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office. The minor was found safe and sound and was handed over to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
What legal measures were taken against the Cuban mother?
Figueroa León was officially arrested and taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center (TGK). Judge Mindy S. Glazer set a bond of $2,500, and the mother chose to remain silent during the questioning.
What is the context of parental kidnapping in the Cuban community of Miami?
Parental kidnapping and domestic violence cases in the Cuban community of Miami have become a growing concern. Similar incidents have involved threats and extreme violence, as reported in other recent situations involving Cuban parents in Florida.
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