At 4:00 P.M. on June 21, 1988, at 22 months old, Vivian Montanez's nanny took her on her daily outing to the park in Cucuta, Colombia. Vivian was never brought home. Later her family received a ransom demand. Colombian police arrested the kidnappers before Vivian was returned home.

After the kidnapping and while the parents were getting together the ransom, equal to approximately $20,000 US dollars, Colombian Law Enforcement traced the phone call from the kidnappers and arrested them within 3 days of Vivian's abduction. Vivian was not seen again. Vivian's father, Nestor, went with one of the kidnappers to a mountainous location in Colombia, where Nestor was told Vivian had been left by herself. At the scene Nestor found a diaper, baby food, and one of Vivian's baby shoes. Later Nestor was told by another kidnapper that Vivian had been sold into adoption via Venezuela and into the US, possibly in Colorado.

If Vivian is alive she would now be 18 years old. The first aged enhanced photo at the left shows how she might have looked at 13. The last sketch was produced by Project EDAN and shows how she might look at 18.

Suspect Information

The suspects, including the Nanny, were arrested within 3 days. They were convicted and sentenced to three years, although some served no more than 8 days in jail. They gave varying accounts of the child's whereabouts.

Law Enforcement Contact:

If you have any information on Vivian Montanez, please contact the Springfield, Illinois office of the Federal Bureau Investigation at (217)522-9675

Related Web Page

http://www.missingdaughter.4t.com

No reward is being offered at this time.