City of Del Rio police release
On July 24, 2023, at approximately 6:30 P.M. a Del Rio Police Department officer received a call for service via telephone
in reference to a female adult and a 3-year-old child that were being held for ransom. The caller provided a possible location where the victims were held.
The caller told police, the female adult reached him via telephone and told him, the kidnappers were demanding ransom money to free her and the child. The caller told police the kidnapping occurred when the female and the child visited Del Rio.
Police were informed the kidnapper contacted the caller a second time and increased the amount of money for ransom. Police drove to the location provided being the 1000 block of East Chapoy St. Officers staged around the location and initiated surveillance.
A male subject drove up to the location but left after spotting police. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspect’s vehicle. The male driver was identified as Johnny Villanueva Jr.; 29 yrs. of age. Johnny Villanueva Jr. was found to have an active arrest warrant with Val Verde Sheriff’s Office for Failure to Identify Fugitive from Justice. Villanueva was placed under arrest for said warrant and was transported to the police station for booking. 
The Criminal Investigation Division obtained a search warrant for the residence. CID entered the residence and safely rescued the female adult and child. Additionally, a male subject identified as Jorge Luis Villanueva; 23 yrs. of age was located inside the residence.
The female adult and child were found unharmed and were transported to the police station for their safety.
Both Johnny Villanueva Jr. and Jorge Luis Villanueva were arrested and charged with two counts of Aggravated Kidnapping for ransom/reward.
