Massachusetts State Police say a mother and her 6-month-old baby have been found after an Amber Alert was issued Thursday when they were reportedly kidnapped from their home in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, by the mother's ex-boyfriend, who was armed with a knife.
The Amber Alert was issued shortly after 2 p.m. and deactivated about 30 minutes later when police said the vehicle was found in a parking lot and all three subjects were located at another address in Fall River.
The suspect, Jeremias R. Cabral, 21, of Fall River, is in custody, state police said. The mother and child are also with police and their well-being is being evaluated.
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State police said their preliminary investigation indicates that Cabral forced his way into the victims' apartment on Tucker Road in Dartmouth around 11:20 a.m. Thursday. During an altercation, he brandished a knife, took the baby and fled the apartment to his car. Out of fear for the child's safety, Benson reportedly followed Cabral and entered the car herself before he drove off.
Investigators said they are not sure at this time if Cabral is the child's father, but Cabral's father Kenneth, told NBC10 Boston on Thursday that his son is the baby's dad.
Kenneth Cabral also told NBC10 Boston that his son has been falsely accused.
"My son’s not that type of guy," he said. "He’s a good kid.”
"Today makes my grandson's six month birthday and he went to go pick them up, not at knife point. She came with him, I was on the phone with her and him, and they were asking me to buy diapers for my grandson," Kenneth Cabral said as he elaborated on what happened Thursday. "So I don’t understand how he’s getting charged with kidnapping at knifepoint.”
After speaking with Benson, investigators said she claimed she and her child were not abducted and that she left by he own choice, without being threatened, according to NBC affiliate WJAR.
Cabral is being charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon and larceny and the alleged driver of the car, Michael Abrantes, was charged with possession of both a Class A and Class B drug, according to NBC affiliate WJAR.
