San Jose police ID baby kidnap suspects

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose police on Wednesday identified the suspects who they say kidnapped a 3-month-old baby from an apartment as his grandmother unloaded groceries.

The department is feeling "triumphant," Sgt. Christian Camarillo said at a news conference, adding that he grew up in an era when "missing kids ended up on milk cartons." 

Police also released the booking photos of Jose Roman Portillo, 28, Yesenia Guadalupe Ramirez, 43, and Baldomeo Sandoval, 37, who were all in custody on Wednesday. 

The baby – Brandon Cuellar – was found Tuesday after an intense 20-hour search and reunited with his mother and grandmother, who had been watching him Monday afternoon when he was abducted. 

Their charges against the three suspects include kidnapping, child abduction and home invasion.

None of the trio wanted to speak publicly,

According to the Sheriff's Office, the "Public Defender's Office has denied media interviews for their clients." 

Portillo was identified as the man who had been captured on surveillance footage walking down the street holding a baby car seat and entering and leaving Brandon's grandmother's apartment in the 1000 block of Elm Street. Baby Brandon was also found in Portillo's home on Tuesday on N. Jackson Street and Mather Drive, about five miles from the baby's home. 

Portillo's connection to the baby has not been made clear, nor has a motive. 

Police said that Ramirez had taken baby Brandon Cuellar and his grandmother to run errands before the abduction, San Jose police said in a statement.

She was detained because police claim she kept changing her version of events after the baby was taken from his apartment. 

In addition, a DMV search shows that a 2011 Nissan Quest that the California Highway Patrol had identified as a possible suspect getaway van was registered to Ramirez. 

Police also named Sandoval as a suspect who was arrested, but they did not state why. 

MORE: Woman who reported van in San Jose baby kidnapping is called a 'hero'

Police have said that at least one of the suspects has a relationship with Brandon's family, but have not made public that connection. 

Police have said that the baby's father is incarcerated and the mother cooperated with helping to find her son. 

The trio is expected to be arraigned on Thursday. 

Anyone with information about this case or similar incidents involving this suspect are urged to contact Detective Van Brande #4542 of the Robbery Unit with any information about this incident at (408) 277-4166.