SAN ANTONIO – Bexar County sheriff’s deputies arrested Julian Maldonado, 22, Friday afternoon on charges of aggravated kidnapping.
The case dates back to a December kidnapping
According to a pair of arrest warrants, Maldonado was part of a group of five suspects taking part in a drug deal that led to the kidnapping.
The first suspect was bound with duct tape in the back of a car before being taken to the Fiesta Inn in the 4900 block of Loop 410 where he was beaten by at least four of the suspects.
Maldonado allegedly spoke about killing both victims before questioning the first victim and then beating him again.
The second victim was brought to the motel shortly after but was not hurt.
The suspects used the victims’ phones to text family members asking for $500. They sent text messages and photos of the victims bound and gagged.
Sheriff’s deputies were able to locate the suspects through cellphone signals and arrested Patricia Aguirre, 31, and Francisco Moreno, 24, at the motel when the victims were brought outside. Christopher Martinez, 23, was arrested a couple of weeks later. Investigators are still looking for a fifth person.
Maldonado faces two first-degree felony counts of aggravated kidnapping and is in jail under $150,000 bond.