The investigation is making headway:
Manatee County Sheriff Charlie Wells released the name of the man he says kidnapped 13-year-old Clay Moore Friday morning, and said the boy was kidnapped for ransom.The suspect is for 22-year-old Vicente Ignacio Beltran-Moreno.
There is a warrant out for his arrest.
Wells said Moreno kidnapped Clay Moore at his bus stop Friday morning for money. He said a ransom note was found asking for money.
Sheriff Wells said the ransom note was one more unusual aspect of the case.
“I don’t recall seeing a ransom note other than television shows,” Wells said.
Wells said Beltran-Moreno is likely out of the state. He said they have contacted other law enforcement agencies, but did not say where.
The sheriff said investigators went through several aliases before confirming the suspect’s real name.
According to the sheriff’s office, Moreno was a former migrant worker, and was most recently an aluminum sub-contractor.
Sheriff Wells said he is certain Moreno is the man who kidnapped Clay Moore at gunpoint from his bus stop Friday morning.
“We are sure of it,” he said.
Wells had high praise for Clay Moore, saying the match between Moore’s description of the suspect, the composite sketch and Moreno’s face was “incredible.”
“[Clay] was extremely helpful and observant. He gave us valuable information, and he was right on the money. He was courageous, and he provided us with valuable, valuable information on how to solve this case,” Wells said.
Investigators say they have found the pick-up truck that the suspect used in the abduction. It was a red Ford Ranger.
They found the truck at the suspect’s last known address, at 3719 17th Street Court East in Bradenton.
Deputies served a search warrant on the house at 5:15 Saturday morning.
Clay had a safety pin in his sleeve that he used to score through the duct tape holding him. He was on a large farm and had to walk around quite a bit to find help. I'm glad a farm worker on a tractor let him use his phone, but that appears to be all the guy did for him. The boy didn't know where he was and law enforcement had to trace him from the phone. Even as they drove up, Clay was still walking, trying to get somewhere.
The sheriff seems to be having trouble with the idea of a note. The last true kidnap-for-ransom I remember is Barbara Jane Mackle's back in 1968, and her father was one of the wealthiest men in Florida.
The Mackle case is probably the very first real news story I have recollection of as a child (I remember the nightly body counts from Vietnam on CBS, but don't recall exactly when I began noticing them). As you might imagine, the kidnapping was a huge story here in Florida, especially after the information was released that she'd spent her captivity buried alive in a box.
Posted by floridacracker at February 25, 2007 02:09 PMamen on the body counts. i always associate green beans(eat them! i don't like them!), walter cronkite and vietnam. america, what a country!
Posted by: richard at February 25, 2007 04:58 PMAs my sister will attest, my mom is a creature of habit with the news. We weren't supposed to have the TV on in the daytime: she'd turn it on herself every evening when it was time for the news.
Yes, she was a big fan of Walter, something I'll never understand as IT'S JUST A GUY READING OUTLOUD!
?? Neither of the above comments seemed to have anything to do with the story of kidnapping & suspects re; Clay Moore/Sarasota Fla, ??
I've been following this story from the other side of the country, skeptically.
I'm glad to hear the young man is apparently fine.
Also wondering who's going to break the story of the hoax behind this kidnapping, as it certainly seems to strain credibility as reported.
I'd like to see some independent research done to collaborate young Mister Moore's story, such as witness interviews, real police reports, the victim's statements etc.
The level of reporting has left many many questions unanswered, and the suspect.. extremely nebulous for either description or motive.
What's the REAL story? (Enquiring minds want to know).
Posted by: magz at February 25, 2007 05:57 PMWell, there sure were a lot of witnesses for it to be a hoax. What proof do YOU have that it is one?
Posted by: Donnah at February 25, 2007 06:20 PMI heard the Vietnam war was a hoax..I *know* Walter Cronkite is a hoax.
a safety pin...how bout that..?
I guess every deputy that interviewed him, all the people who know him..they all fell for it. Stupid cops. Stupid people..can't they see a conspiracy to defame the loyal undocumented (steerage..starving) immigrant workers by this mock-up kidnapping faux ransom ??
Now that the party is over, and all these non-citizens are hearing us discuss their extermination..and techniques we will use to keep their cousins safe at home (casa), where they belong...we will see more and more frivolous lawsuits, outlandish crimes upon the white man..etc.. etc.. *That* is why we have to properly *brandish* this..this... vermin.. by setting up as many of these hoax kidnapping/child rape scenarios as possible. That is sure to raise some eyebrows when the new President takes charge ..right ??
Posted by: csason at February 25, 2007 08:03 PMThis is exactly why I left Florida. This state is and has been in a constant downward spiral. Young families are fleeing, increase in crime, especially my home town of Orlando. I currently live in Maryland, and the people, quality of life, schools, are vastly superior. I have twin girls and my wife and I used to think about moving back home but lately with the changes we have noticed, the only way we would do that is if one of us became very ill as we do not have any family where we live. The people I knew in college are doing the same thing that left them doing back in '87 when we were all 27 something. There is no growth, no change, and now they are getting old and really have nothing to show for it (my opinion-understood). One of them, somebody I cared for at one time, told me "life will cut you down to size" but I earn six figures, wife doesn't have to work, and kids go to private school, play with the kids of senators, and yes believe it or not, one King. I saw her not to long ago, I barely noticed her as she is very heavy now, whew! Best thing she did for me was to let me go. Again, no growth here, or at least the wrong kind. I have always been proud to be a product of Florida, but stories like this and many others that originate out of the state as most of them seem to do make me ashamed. Your site intrigued me as I am waiting for my plane, I dont do this and dont intend to do it again. Florida was the dream that could have been, instead it is turning into a nightmare that is. The real tragedy here, is this kid now rescued, still has to grow up in Florida, who is going to rescue him from that, maybe he can save himself again.
Posted by: Himself at February 26, 2007 06:21 PMYou're touting Maryland, home of that shithole known as Baltimore?
Yeah, blame the entire state of Florida because some chick didn't love you.
You earn 6 figures and you have the ignorance to criticize Florida. Every state has assholes,,, and crime,,,,and trust me im from connecticut, I have lived in florida 15 years,,,,I visit maryland often have friends in Bel air,.,, baltimore and DC are 2 of the nastiest cities I have been too,,,so your ignorance of judging one state should have you making 2 figures with a lazy ass wife that sits at home all day and stuck up, snooty, no moral private school kids,,,,Clay Moore is a hero,,, doesnt matter where you live.
Posted by: gee at February 27, 2007 03:55 PM