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May 28, 2009
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
The day after a Hemet man was last seen, his family said they received a demand for $2 million ransom, and police strongly suspect a Mexican drug cartel is involved.
Hemet police have been searching for Oscar Bravo, a 25-year-old Hemet stereo salesman, since April 16. He was last seen leaving with three men who confronted him at his Hook-Upz stereo installation and window tinting business on Esplanade Avenue.
Police have stopped short of deeming the case a kidnapping, but are investigating his disappearance as a suspicious missing person's report, said Hemet police Capt. Rob Webb.
Story continues below
Authorities say they believe members of a Mexican drug cartel may have come after Bravo to settle a debt. His family received several calls demanding ransom.
Hemet police learned prior to his disappearance that Bravo had trafficked hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Mexico to the U.S., according to a Hemet police report.
Riverside County prosecutors issued a felony warrant last July on charges of possession of marijuana for sale.
"We developed information that he was definitely selling and bringing drugs into the country," Webb said. "It is not uncommon for cartels to try to kidnap someone to collect debt. We don't know if this is cartel-related, but we have a strong suspicion that it is."
But in the weeks since Bravo's disappearance, all possible leads have been exhausted, said David Strait, a private investigator hired by Bravo's family.
His family is praying for his safe return and shocked that the violence from south of the border has intruded into Hemet.
"It really says no community is immune to this activity," Strait said.
He added that there's no escaping the consequences of the drug trade.
"There's always a price to be paid on the backside," he said.
Ransom demand
Bravo's business partner reported seeing him arguing with three men, then leaving the stereo business about 5 p.m. April 16 in a gray Toyota, according to the police report.
He didn't come home that night, and his sister reported him missing the next day.
That afternoon, his father, Elias Bravo, received a phone call from a man speaking Spanish. The caller said he had Oscar and demanded $2 million for his safe return.
The person on the phone wouldn't let Elias speak to Oscar, but the father asked a question that only the son would know and the caller supplied the answer, according to the police report.
The caller also played a recording of Oscar's voice pleading for help, said his sister Rosa Bravo.
Elias Bravo told police he got a second call three hours later asking if he had the money. When he said he had $2,000, the caller laughed and demanded $2 million, according to the police report.
Hemet police traced the calls to Mexico and areas in the U.S. along the border near San Diego.
The department contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the U.S. marshal's office. But the federal agencies said their role may be limited because of the escalated violence along the border related to drug cartels, according to the police report.
Authorities urged the family not to go after Bravo themselves, the report stated.
Over the next two days, the family received four more calls. In one, the caller described the $600,000 debt Bravo owed, plus interest amounting to $2 million.
By that time, the family had raised $45,000. The callers gave them instructions to deliver the money to the Nelson Hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, Strait said.
The family went, without telling police, and handed over the money, Strait said. But Bravo was never returned.
There has been no contact with the captors since.
A Family waits
In the past month, Hemet police have teamed with Mexican liaisons and authorities along the border.
Strait is also pursuing several leads in Mexico, including checking Bravo's photo against a number of victims of drug-related executions on the border.
"There's no indication he's dead or alive," Strait said.
Bravo's family spends each night praying he might return home to see his 4-month-old son.
"You think you live in such a small place and it's scary to know it's so close to home and can happen to someone you love," Rosa Bravo said.
"We give ourselves to the Lord and sit and wait -- there's nothing else to do. At night we say our prayers and God to do what he has to do."
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
The day after a Hemet man was last seen, his family said they received a demand for $2 million ransom, and police strongly suspect a Mexican drug cartel is involved.
Hemet police have been searching for Oscar Bravo, a 25-year-old Hemet stereo salesman, since April 16. He was last seen leaving with three men who confronted him at his Hook-Upz stereo installation and window tinting business on Esplanade Avenue.
Police have stopped short of deeming the case a kidnapping, but are investigating his disappearance as a suspicious missing person's report, said Hemet police Capt. Rob Webb.
Story continues below
Authorities say they believe members of a Mexican drug cartel may have come after Bravo to settle a debt. His family received several calls demanding ransom.
Hemet police learned prior to his disappearance that Bravo had trafficked hundreds of pounds of marijuana from Mexico to the U.S., according to a Hemet police report.
Riverside County prosecutors issued a felony warrant last July on charges of possession of marijuana for sale.
"We developed information that he was definitely selling and bringing drugs into the country," Webb said. "It is not uncommon for cartels to try to kidnap someone to collect debt. We don't know if this is cartel-related, but we have a strong suspicion that it is."
But in the weeks since Bravo's disappearance, all possible leads have been exhausted, said David Strait, a private investigator hired by Bravo's family.
His family is praying for his safe return and shocked that the violence from south of the border has intruded into Hemet.
"It really says no community is immune to this activity," Strait said.
He added that there's no escaping the consequences of the drug trade.
"There's always a price to be paid on the backside," he said.
Ransom demand
Bravo's business partner reported seeing him arguing with three men, then leaving the stereo business about 5 p.m. April 16 in a gray Toyota, according to the police report.
He didn't come home that night, and his sister reported him missing the next day.
That afternoon, his father, Elias Bravo, received a phone call from a man speaking Spanish. The caller said he had Oscar and demanded $2 million for his safe return.
The person on the phone wouldn't let Elias speak to Oscar, but the father asked a question that only the son would know and the caller supplied the answer, according to the police report.
The caller also played a recording of Oscar's voice pleading for help, said his sister Rosa Bravo.
Elias Bravo told police he got a second call three hours later asking if he had the money. When he said he had $2,000, the caller laughed and demanded $2 million, according to the police report.
Hemet police traced the calls to Mexico and areas in the U.S. along the border near San Diego.
The department contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the U.S. marshal's office. But the federal agencies said their role may be limited because of the escalated violence along the border related to drug cartels, according to the police report.
Authorities urged the family not to go after Bravo themselves, the report stated.
Over the next two days, the family received four more calls. In one, the caller described the $600,000 debt Bravo owed, plus interest amounting to $2 million.
By that time, the family had raised $45,000. The callers gave them instructions to deliver the money to the Nelson Hotel in Tijuana, Mexico, Strait said.
The family went, without telling police, and handed over the money, Strait said. But Bravo was never returned.
There has been no contact with the captors since.
A Family waits
In the past month, Hemet police have teamed with Mexican liaisons and authorities along the border.
Strait is also pursuing several leads in Mexico, including checking Bravo's photo against a number of victims of drug-related executions on the border.
"There's no indication he's dead or alive," Strait said.
Bravo's family spends each night praying he might return home to see his 4-month-old son.
"You think you live in such a small place and it's scary to know it's so close to home and can happen to someone you love," Rosa Bravo said.
"We give ourselves to the Lord and sit and wait -- there's nothing else to do. At night we say our prayers and God to do what he has to do."