ORLANDO, Fla. — A Eustis family was reunited with their toddler Tuesday night (images | raw video) after deputies say a nun kidnapped the child and took her to Argentina. The tearful reunion happened at Orlando International Airport, when authorities returned 2-year-old Maria Lopez-Vasquez to her parents after being separated for months.
Suspect Nun Cabellero not blurb 020310 Laura Caballero Investigators say the parents, Jose Ochoa-Avalos and Adai Lopez-Vasquez, had left the child last July with a nun from their Eustis church, Laura Caballero, who is also known as Sister Mary. The couple was grieving the death of another baby, who was stillborn. Caballero moved in to help the family and care for their toddler.
FAMILY REUNITED: See Images | Raw Video
"She really took a special interest in the child and actually propositioned the parents to let her have the child and raise the child and even offered them $2,000," said Lt. John Harrell with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
But, instead, authorities say Caballero took off with the child to Argentina.
The family was separated for the last six months until the FBI and U.S. Customs and Immigration helped Lake County investigators track Caballero down in Argentina. She was arrested when she returned to south Florida two weeks ago without the child. The FBI and customs agents tracked the toddler down in Argentina and brought her home Tuesday night.
Caballero has bonded out of jail. She was arrested for false imprisonment, but it's possible she could face more charges.
WFTV
