Felix Batista
Felix Batista is a Cuban-American[2] anti-kidnapping expert and former U.S. Army major who has negotiated resolution to nearly 100 kidnapping and ransom cases,[3] dozens of them in Mexico.[4] Batista was a consultant for Houston, Texas-based security firm ASI Global.[3] In December 2008, he was kidnapped in Mexico.
Felix Batista | |
|---|---|
| Born | Felix I. Batista |
| Disappeared | December 10, 2008 (aged 55) Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico |
| Status | Missing for 12 years, 3 months and 27 days |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse(s) | Lourdes Batista[1] |
| Children | 5 |
Kidnapping
On December 10, 2008, Batista was kidnapped outside a restaurant in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico by unknown assailants[3] while there to speak and give anti-kidnapping advice.[5]
Batista was working as a negotiator to secure the release of a friend of his, while he was in a restaurant with several other people he received a phone call advising that the victim had been released and a car was being sent for him. As Batista left the restaurant he was forced into a Jeep by a group of four people who had been waiting for him. An hour later the kidnapping victim was released.[6]
Since then, no one has had any communication with him and no one has ever claimed responsibility for his kidnapping as of June 2016.
A statement from Batista's family said there was no sign of violence at the scene.[7]
Military
Felix I. Batista, while a Major in the Florida Army National Guard and commander of a Military Intelligence Company was instrumental in developing a field training exercise called "Red Scorpion" which is now used NGB-wide by other National Guard Military Intelligence units.
See also
References
- Felix, João Batista de Jesus. Hip Hop: cultura e política no contexto paulistano (Thesis). Universidade de Sao Paulo Sistema Integrado de Bibliotecas - SIBiUSP. doi:10.11606/t.8.2006.tde-01052006-181824.
- Julieta, Martínez (2008-02-21). "Destaca México en número de secuestros" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- Stevenson, Mark (2008-12-15). "US anti-kidnapping expert kidnapped in Mexico". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- "Kidnappings soar in Mexico". AZ Central. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
- Lacey, Marc (December 16, 2008). "Anti-kidnapping consultant kidnapped in Mexico". The New York Times.
- "Felix Batista". FBI. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- "'Please have mercy,' wife begs kidnappers - CNN.com". CNN. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2010-05-02.