Durham man facing charges in Sampson County kidnapping case
DURHAM (WTVD) -- A man has been charged in connection with a domestic kidnapping that spanned from Sampson County to Durham.
It all started shortly before midnight Friday when Sampson County deputies were called to the 40 block of Shaun Lane in Clinton about a kidnapping.
Responding officers made contact with Claudia Hernandez, who reported that her sister, nephew and niece had been abducted by force. The victims were identified as Ebelin Barahona, her nine-year-old daughter and her four-year-old son.
Investigators determined that 33-year-old Alex Fernado Meza Acosta, Barahona's former boyfriend and the father of the children, had abducted the victims.
Around 5:20 a.m. Saturday, Durham police responded to a home in the 1100 block of South Alston Avenue.
Police were requested by the Sampson County Sheriff's Office to go out to the home after Acosta's car had been located.
Authorities say that suspect was taken into custody without any incident.
Barahona had minor injuries, however the children appeared unharmed.
Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said he was pleased that the situation ended in a peaceful manner. He also expressed his appreciation to the Durham Police Department for the rapid and professional manner in which they took the suspect into custody and secured the victims.
Acosta has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and violating a domestic violence protective order. He is being held at the Sampson County Detention Center without bond.
