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Sandra Yi reportingA Salt Lake City mother and her infant son are safe tonight, after police uncovered an intricate plan, apparently aimed at keeping the mother quiet.
Police say Martin Espinosa kidnapped the baby last night, and may be working with Benjamin Marquez, who is in jail for kidnapping the mother just 2- months ago.
Police say the kidnapping was part of a plan to scare the baby's mother into silence.
Det. Kevin Joiner: "This is almost something that you'd see in the movies."
Salt Lake City Police are investigating a kidnapping case that stems back to a similar crime, last year. The victims are a baby and his mother.
Det. Kevin Joiner Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "It's a very bizarre and kind of cluttered and muttered thing right now. Trying to get through it and sort everything out."
Police say Martin Espinoza kidnapped a 3 month old baby at a Salt Lake home last night. Espinoza and the baby's mother, Alma Majarrez are aquaintances. When he knocked on the door, she let him in. That's when the suspect and another woman snatched Majarrez's baby. Detectives say the motive was blackmail.
Det. Kevin Joiner: "The female left with the baby and he was holding the mom back and he basically told her you'll get the baby back if you drop charges against this other person that's in custody right now."
That person is Benjamin Marquez. He is in jail for kidnapping Majarrez at gunpoint, last November. An officer foiled the plan, when he saw the couple struggling in the suspect's car. Majarrez told police her husband had sold Marquez a car but she didn't even know his name. She talked to KSL, after the incident.
Alma Majarrez December 1, 2003: "I don't know what could have happened if the police officer didn't show up at that moment."
Majarrez was going to testify against Marquez in court. Tonight she and her baby, who was found unharmed in a Glendale home, are staying in a safe house.
Det. Kevin Joiner: "Obviously she's been through a lot. She's quite stressed and quite frazzled right now. I think getting the baby returned helped a great deal with the way that she feels, but obviously, she's going to be very distraught."
Police say Martin Espinoza has a criminal record. If you have any information on his whereabouts, call the Salt Lake City Police Department. Police are also looking for his female accomplice.
