Father from SW Miami-Dade AMBER Alert found dead in Pasco County, newborn still missing

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - The father who was being sought in connection to an AMBER Alert that was issued for his newborn son has been found dead in Pasco County, deputies have confirmed, but the infant is still missing.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, 49-year-old Ernesto Caballeiro was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Pasco County, just north of Tampa. The whereabouts of Caballeiro’s 1-week old son Andrew are still unknown.

Aerial footage from Pasco County showed the white van investigators said Caballeiro was last seen driving. The 49-year-old’s body was also inside of the van parked on the side of the roadway.

“There were no signs of the baby,” Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said. “We had the bloodhounds out there searching. There was no indication that the child was in the area, but one individual told us that he saw a blonde woman sitting in the truck, and I sit here and pray to God that is true, and she has the baby.”

It was later announced that investigators do not believe the blonde woman was involved and may have just been checking the van after the discovery.

Officers later announced finding evidence that may suggest a baby was in the van.

“There was a pacifier,” said Nocco. “After we swabbed it for forensics, we did a search. We had the bloodhounds out there searching.”

The search came up empty.

An AMBER Alert was issued for Andrew overnight Wednesday after Miami-Dade Police officers discovered three dead adult women inside of the family’s Southwest Miami-Dade home near Southwest 219th Street and 187th Avenue, Tuesday.

Miami-Dade Police have since released the names of the victims. They have been identified as 40-year-old Arlety Garcia Valdes, 60-year-old Isabela Valdes and 84-year-old Lina Gonzalez.

According to Miguel Gonzalez, a family friend of the victims, the infant’s mother, grandmother and great-grandmother were the three women who were fatally shot.

Officers were called to the scene to perform a welfare check when a family member stopped by the house and found all three bodies inside.

Sources close to 7News said Caballeiro shot and killed the three women and took off with the child.

“They are a good family,” Gonzalez said through a translator. “My friend is the uncle of the baby. I am unaware if they were having issues as a family. I am hopeful that the baby will be found.”

As of Wednesday, not much has been released regarding the 49-year-old, but state records indicated that he ran a private transportation business to bus children to and from school.

Authorities continue to search for Andrew Caballeiro.

On Thursday, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office tweeted out a map to suggest the route Caballeiro “most likely” drove prior to his death.

They urge anyone who was along the route and may have seen him to contact authorities immediately.

“All we care about right now is that we get that baby back,” Nocco said.

Florida has a safe haven law, and detectives are hoping that if someone has baby Andrew, they will turn him into a hospital or fire station or any other safe haven location.

Authorities urge workers at any safe haven location that may receive any infants to report it immediately.

If you have any information on this case, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $3,000 reward.

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