Case against woman accused of kidnapping Garner mom and her baby to move forward, here's why
GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) -- A woman who's one of three suspects in a Garner kidnapping that set off an AMBER Alert and a manhunt for a mother and her baby appeared in federal court in Raleigh on Thursday.
Paola Duran Duran, 25, was arrested in April and charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of second-degree kidnapping.
During her appearance, Duran Duran waived her rights to a probable cause hearing, as well as a detention hearing. This means the federal government's case will move forward, and she will remain in the custody of the United States Marshal's office.
A federal prosecutor said this week that Paola was the one who knocked on the door of a Garner home that led to the alleged kidnapping. Two men forced their way inside and demanded money -- reportedly $1 million. When they didn't get any money, the suspects tied up the husband with duct tape and took his wife and daughter, investigators say.
A federal prosecutor also said Duran Duran "implicated herself" when questioned about the April incident.
The government prosecutor also said that the victims were taken to a mobile home and Paola Duran Duran bathed the mother "in order to get rid of any evidence."
Duran Duran allegedly told investigators during questioning that this was part of "a larger scheme of kidnapping people to get ransoms."
Her family was in court for Thursday's proceeding. She was seen smiling at them and waving several times.
ABC11 attempted to speak with Duran Duran's family after court, but they didn't want to comment on the allegations.
Paola's brother, Miguel Angel Duran Duran, 23, faces the same charges in the investigation. Both were arrested on April 30, a day after the alleged kidnapping.
A third suspect, Eleodoro "Leo" Estrada-Hernandez, 37, was arrested May 1 by the FBI. He faces two counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of second-degree kidnapping, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and two counts of assault by pointing a firearm.
All charges and the case have been bound over to federal court.
Miguel Angel Duran Duran and Estrada-Hernandez appeared in federal court on Monday. The judge ruled that the case can move forward.
The suspects are Mexican nationals and are in the country illegally, authorities say. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detainers on all three suspects. Documents show Miguel Duran Duran was deported from the U.S. in 2017. He remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Office.
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According to court documents, the husband told investigators the suspects knew his name and the nickname of a family member.
Miguel and Paola claimed Estrada-Hernandez promised them $100,000 to help him with a job, and stated they did not expect to find the mother and child at the house.
The FBI has not confirmed those claims and continues to investigate the case.
