SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The FBI has taken over the investigation of a reported coordinated abduction of a live-in nanny, two children and their mother, in Southwest Miami-Dade after, police said, all three of them went missing and were safely recovered.
According to Miami-Dade Police, they received a call around 2:30 p.m., Thursday.
Investigators said the possible abduction of a live-in caretaker in her 40s and two girls, ages 4 and 2 years old, reportedly took place on Southwest 87th Place, off 48th Street.
Eric Ison, who lives at the home as a roommate, said he was at work when about six men arrived at the house.
“My roommate’s kids got abducted,” said Ison. “I checked the cameras and there were many people in our driveway. I watched the camera back. I have no idea who these people are.”
Ison said while the strangers were inside the house, another group of men abducted the mother from her job at a local restaurant.
“They took them at the same time, so I assume they came here,” said the roommate. “She was at her work at Domino’s. They came and took her off from the counter and they just took her away in broad daylight. These people came in broad daylight. I don’t know how they did it.”
7SkyForce hovered over the area where the primary investigation looked to be around a cul-de-sac, as police officers went in and out of a home there.
Police cordoned off several blocks in the neighborhood while they investigated and neighbors tried to make sense of the situation.
“I was driving by, and then I couldn’t come into 48th Street,” said area resident Magda Quiros. “I called my neighbors and let them know, ‘Look, do you know what’s going on at the end of the street?'”
“I thought this neighborhood was super safe, so obviously, it alarms me,” said Johana Crespo.
The FBI took over the case Thursday night after the nanny and children were returned near the home, while the mother was returned to her job, all at around the same time, at 9 p.m.
Authorities said all are OK.
“The kids are great, and they’re fine,” said Ison. “It seems like they were in good hands the entire time. They were in good spirits. No crying or anything. Hopefully, they catch these people, whoever they are. It was about six people involved. I have no idea why they would target us. They wanted something.”
7News spotted the mother and live-in nanny Friday afternoon.
We were told they were leaving the home to meet with FBI agents.
“The FBI is going to have good leads to try to track down these people,” said Rich Kolko, a former FBI agent and hostage negotiator.
Responding to what is publicly known so far, he said, “There’s certainly a possibility that these families or these people had some connection.”
7News has reached out to the FBI. They declined to comment about their investigation, at this point.
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