I'M LESTER HOLT. TONIGHT ON
DATELINE:
WE LIVED IN A FAIRY TALE, WHERE EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT
"FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!"
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S THAT DEMON. THAT BLACK
SPIRIT. THAT DARKNESS.
FOREHEAD THE FIRST THING I STARTED THINKING OF WAS MY
AT FIRST I WAS LIKE WHAT DOES KIDNAPPED MEAN?
MY DAD WAS STOLEN BY BAD GUYS? I LOST EVERYTHING I KNEW
ABOUT MY LIFE, JUST LIKE THAT, GONE
IT WAS SUCH A MYSTERY WHO WAS BEHIND THIS, WHO HAD DONE THIS
IT WAS JUST TEARING ME APART I WAS SUFFERING SO MUCH
I SAID I WILL DO EVERYTHING HUMANLY GET YOUR FATHER BACK!
(CRIES) IF IT TAKES EVERYTHING WE HAVE,
EVERYTHING I CAN HUMANLY DO! I SAW THINGS THAT NO 12 YEAR
OLD SHOULD SEE I MEAN, THE CRUELTY...
THIS INCREDIBLE FEAR AND AGONY LIKE WHEN IS THIS GONNA END?
TOGETHER AND ALL THE PAIN ALL THE HELL WE WENT THROUGH
IT HAS MADE US UNBREAKABLE. HERE'S KEITH MORRISON WITH...
"THE RANCH" THE GREEN AND WHITE TAXI
BARRELED DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SOMETHING WAS WHY HAD THAT
MAN PAID TEN TIMES THE FOR A SIMPLE PACKAGE DELIVERY..?
THE CABBIE PRIED OPEN THE ENVELOPE... WAS THAT
SOMEONE'S FINGER? AND WHY WAS THAT MAN NOW
TAILING HIM? COLD FEAR RISING, HE PULLED INTO
A GAS STATION. HE BEGGED THE POLICE...COME
QUICK.. BUT THE CABBIE HAD NO IDEA.
ANYMORE THAN THIS FAMILY DID...THAT THEIR OWN
TERRIFYING STORY MORE THAN A DECADE IN THE MAKING WAS
ABOUT TO COME TO AN ASTONISHING CLIMAX..
I WAS 12 YEARS OLD. 12 YEARS OLD WHEN IT HAPPENED AND
THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU, YOU MEET THE DARK IN LIFE. IN
A REALLY UGLY WAY. IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE HOW WE
WOULD BE LIKE IF NONE OF THAT HAPPENED
I NEVER GO INTO DETAIL. IT'S ALWAYS, LIKE, "WELL SOMETHING
HAPPENED. NOW I'M HERE." AND HERE HAPPENED..TO THE
VALSECA CHILDREN...SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE IN MEXICO... A
LITTLE SLICE OF - WELL - PARADISE IS WHAT IT SEEMED
LIKE TO THEM. MY MOM USED TO CALL IT OUR
LITTLE BUBBLE, YOU KNOW. "HONESTLY I WAS LIVING MY
DREAMS AND THEN SOME." THIS IS THEIR J.A.Y.N.E., BY
THE WAY, A DETAIL THAT WILL LATER.
"MY WHOLE LIFE I HAD WORKED AS AN ACTRESS AND DID A LOT
OF TV COMMERCIALS, BIT ROLES IN MOVIES AND SOAP OPERAS."
AND THEN, 1992... IT HAPPENED. PURE CHANCE.
"IT'S KIND OF LIKE ONE OF THESE FAIRY TALE STORIES"
SHE WAS 25. SHE WAS AT A PAY PHONE NEAR
WASHINGTON, D.C. WHEN SHE JUST HAPPENED TO LOCK EYES
WITH AN ART DEALER NAMED EDUARDO VALSECA .
WHO SHE WOULD FIND OUT, WAS A DIVORCED DAD OF TWO...AND THE
OFFSPRING HIMSELF OF A FAMOUS MEXICAN NEWSPAPER BARON
COLONEL JOSE GARCIA VALSECA (PH) WHO FOUNDED-- OVER 40
NEWSPAPERS IN MEXICO. HE WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST--
NEWSPAPER PEOPLE, PUBLISHERS, IN THE COUNTRY.
WOULD BE AN EQUIVALENT IN THE US OF WHO?
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST. PROBABLY, YEAH.
THAT'S WHEN GARCIA VALSECA RAN HIS NEWSPAPER EMPIRE FROM
A LUXURY PULLMAN TRAIN CAR. THE ONE WHICH, DECADES LATER,
EDUARDO OWNED. THOUGH, WHEN HE INVITED THIS
BEAUTIFUL WOMAN HE'D JUST MET TO MEXICO FOR A TRAIN RIDE...
...SHE HAD NO IDEA THAT THE TRAIN... WAS HIS.
WE'RE WALKING TOWARD IT AND THIS MAN COMES OUT WITH A
WHITE JACKET WHITE GLOVES BLACK BOW TIE WITH A SILVER
TRAY I WAS JUST COMPLETELY SPEECHLESS.
SHE SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE TRAIN CAR WAS ABOUT ALL
EDUARDO HAD OF FAMILY FORTUNE. THE REST, ALONG WITH
THE NEWSPAPER EMPIRE, HAD LONG SINCE WITHERED AWAY.
BUT JAYNE FELL FOR A MAN, NOT MONEY, AND WHAT EDUARDO
LACKED IN FORTUNE HE REPLACED WITH LAUGHTER AND PASSION AND
A HUGE ENVELOPING PERSONALITY...
JAYNE WAS IN LOVE, AND SOON MARRIED, AND SWEPT OFF TO
MEXICO... ONE THING EDUARDO'S HERITAGE
DID AFFORD THEM WAS THE CHANCE TO LIVE ANYWHERE THEY
WANTED IN MEXICO AND THIS IS WHERE THEY CHOSE. SAN MIGUEL
DE ALLENDE, A COLONIAL TOWN, A PLACE SO LOVELY ITS
ATTRACTED PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME HERE
AND LIVE. JAYNE AND EDUARDO LOVED
FIXING UP AND SELLING OLD HOUSES...SO THEY MADE THAT
THEIR BUSINESS. ...AND THEY MADE...CHILDREN.
IT HAD BEEN A BIG DREAM OF MINE TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY
AND TO HAVE A BIG ORGANIC GARDEN AND FRUIT TREES AND
HORSES AND LOTS OF ANIMALS FOR THE KIDS TO PLAY WITH.
IT WAS LUCK WHEN THIS PLACE A RUNDOWN RANCH. IN
FORECLOSURE. PERFECT. EVERY LITTLE BIT OF MONEY
THAT WE MADE EVERYTHING WE COULD MANAGE TO SAVE WE
STARTED PUTTING INTO THE THEY BUILT A REAL RANCH
AMONG THE MESQUITE TREES. AND SURROUNDED IT WITH FINE
BIG GATES... ..AND OUTBUILDINGS...
..A GARDEN FOR HER.. ..A RIDING RING AND FINE
SPANISH HORSES FOR HIM. AND...NO SURPRISE, PART OF
THEIR BUILDING PLAN INVOLVED THAT STATELY OLD RAILROAD CAR.
"ONE OF THE MARVELOUS PARTS ABOUT ENDING UP WITH THIS
PIECE OF PROPERTY WAS IT JUST HAPPENED THAT THE RAILROAD
TRACK WENT RIGHT THRU IT" JAYNE WAS BEHIND THEIR HOME
MOVIE CAMERA AS THE CAR WAS TOWED TO IT'S NEW HOME ON THE
RANCH. WE'RE SO HAPPY ON THE TRAIN"
AND FOR THREE GROWING CHILDREN, A MAGIC PLACE,
HAPPY AND SECURE. FERNANDO.
EMILIANO. AND BABY NAYAH...
100% YEAH IT WAS PARADISE. THAT BABY IS NOW 21
I REMEMBER WE USED TO HAVE A CAGE FULL OF RABBITS-- LIKE,
TONS OF BUNNY RABBITS, AND THAT WAS MY FAVORITE THING.
22 YEAR OLD EMILIANO REMEMBERS A LIFE LIVED
OUTDOORS. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A XBOX
OR A PLAYSTATION, OR-- YOU KNOW, ELECTRONICS. I HAD
DOGS, I HAD-- WHO NEEDS IT?
--A DONKEY THAT WOULD TAKE ME TO SCHOOL (LAUGH) EVERY
MORNING. HOW WAS THAT POSSIBLE? JAYNE
WANTED THE CHILDREN TO GET AN EDUCATION BEYOND WHAT PUBLIC
SCHOOLS HERE OFFERED ...SO SHE AND EDUARDO FOUNDED A
'WALDORF' SCHOOL. BUILT IT RIGHT ON THE RANCH -
RECRUITED OTHER FAMILIES TO JOIN THEM. JAYNE'S ELDEST,
FERNANDO LOVED THE SCHOOL. IT WAS MY MOTHER'S PRIDE AND
WE KNEW, WE KNEW EVERY SINGLE STUDENT THAT WENT TO THAT
EVERYBODY ON THE FACULTY. IT WAS A BIG FAMILY.
EVERY MORNING, THE HALF MILE COMMUTE DOWN THEIR OWN QUIET
COUNTRY LANE TO SCHOOL HAD BECOME A FAMILY RITUAL.
AND THE MORNING ROUTINE WAS SINGING ALL THE WAY TO
SCHOOL. "WHICH WAS REALLY THE ONLY ROUTINE THAT WE HAD”
SO NOW IT WAS THAT PERFECT MORNING. JUNE 2007.
AND THEY BUMPED AND SANG, NOISY AND HAPPY, DOWN THE
DUSTY ROAD. AND OF COURSE THEY DID NOT
UNDERSTAND - HOW COULD THEY - THAT THIS WAS THE LAST MOMENT
OF PURE INNOCENCE ANY OF THEM WOULD EVER KNOW.
WHEN WE COME BACK: A VIOLENT AWAKENING
WE WERE IMMEDIATELY HIT FROM HE JUST POINTS THE GUN AT MY
FOREHEAD THE FIRST THING I SAID TO HIM
WAS 'PLEASE DON'T KILL ME I HAVE THREE CHILDREN".
A TERRIFYING ROAD WAS AHEAD -- AND A JOURNEY THAT WOULD
TEST THEM ALL. I LOST EVERYTHING I KNEW
ABOUT LIFE, JUST LIKE THAT, GONE.
"YOU HAVE TO KNOW I WILL DO EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE.
IF IT TAKES EVERYTHING WE HAVE, EVERYTHING I CAN
HUMANLY DO!”
FOR SO LONG THAT IT WAS ALMOST LIKE LIVING IN A FANTASY
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE, ON A DAILY BASIS, PINCH ME.
IS THIS REAL >> Reporter: IT WAS JUNE, 2007,
TWO WEEKS BEFORE SUMMER VACATION
EDUARDO AND JAYNE VALSECA AND THEIR THREE CHILDREN ARRIVED AT
THE COUNTRY SCHOOL NOT FAR FROM THEIR RANCH HOUSE OUTSIDE SAN
MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, IN MEXICO >> AS WE PULLED INTO THE PARKING
LOT, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL, COMPACT CAR IN THE FAR
CORNER OF THE PARKING LOT. AND THERE WAS A -- A MAN AT THE
WHEEL WHO HAD A FISHERMAN'S CAP, KHAKI COLOR ON AND GLASSES
>> Reporter: A PROSPECTIVE PARENT, PERHAPS, FOR NEXT YEAR'S
CLASS? JAYNE WALKED THE CHILDREN TO
THEIR CLASSROOMS SHE STOPPED AT THE SCHOOL
OFFICE >> AND ASKED THE ADMINISTRATOR
IF SHE KNEW WHO THE GENTLEMAN WAS OR IF HE NEEDED HELP
AND SHE LOOKED OVER AND LOOKED ACROSS THE -- THE PARKING LOT
AND SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS
HE MUST BE WAITING FOR SOMEONE." >> Reporter: EDUARDO WAS BEHIND
THE WHEEL OF THE JEEP, LISTENING TO THE RADIO
THE STRANGER'S CAR WAS BEYOND IT, AT THE BACK OF THE LOT
>> AS I WALKED TO THE JEEP WHERE MY HUSBAND WAS, I LOOKED ACROSS
AND MADE EYE CONTACT WITH HIM AND ACTUALLY SMILED, AND HE
SMILED BACK. >> Reporter: EDUARDO PUT THE
JEEP IN GEAR, PULLED AWAY. THE STRANGE CAR FELL IN BEHIND
THEM >> A PICKUP TRUCK COMES OUT OF
NOWHERE. IT CATCHES UP TO US, AND THE MAN
DRIVING TURNS AND LOOKS AT US, AND THE LOOK WAS REALLY SCARY.
>> Reporter: YOU SAW HIM >> WE BOTH GOT THIS CREEPY
FEELING. JUST THE WAY THE MAN LOOKED AT
US >> Reporter: NOW THAT STRANGER'S
CAR AND THE PICKUP RACED TO POSITIONS BESIDE AND IN FRONT OF
THE JEEP >> EDUARDO SAID, "SOMETHING IS
DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT WHAT IS THIS GUY DOING?"
>> Reporter: AND THEN, IN MOMENTS, IT WAS OBVIOUS.
JAYNE AND EDUARDO WERE BEING CHASED, HERDED LIKE CATTLE INTO
A CHUTE WITH NO ESCAPE >> IN THE DISTANCE, WE SEE THE
COMPACT CAR WHICH HAS RACED UP OUR INTERIOR ROAD CUT IN FRONT
>> Reporter: HERE, SHE RELIVED IT
THE HORRIFIED MOMENT AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF THEM SUDDENLY
STOPPED AND EDUARDO SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES
>> IMMEDIATELY WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND
AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A SPLIT SECOND, AND THERE WAS A MAN
COMING OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR COMING AT EDUARDO
AND HE'S GOT A HAMMER IN ONE HAND AND A HANDGUN IN THE NEXT
>> Reporter: THE MASKED MAN SHATTERED THE WINDOW AND LANDED
A HARD BLOW TO EDUARDO'S HEAD THAT SENT BLOOD GUSHING DOWN HIS
FACE >> THE FIRST THING I STARTED
THINKING OF WAS MY CHILDREN. ARE MY CHILDREN GOING TO LOSE
THEIR PARENTS RIGHT NOW? >> Reporter: A SECOND ATTACKER
RAN AT JAYNE, YANKED OPEN HER DOOR, PULLED HER FROM THE JEEP
SHE SCREAMED, KICKED AT HIM, GRABBED THE FENCE BESIDE HER
THE BARBED WIRE SLICED THROUGH HER FINGER
HER ATTACKER FORCED HER DOWN >> WHILE I'M LAYING ON THE
GROUND, HE JUST POINTS THE GUN AT MY FOREHEAD AND TELLS ME IN
SPANISH TO GET UP. THE FIRST THING I SAID TO HIM
WAS, "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME I HAVE THREE CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: THEN THEY HUSTLED JAYNE AND EDUARDO INTO A WAITING
SUV, UNSEEN ACCOMPLICES SNAPPED PILLOWCASES OVER THEIR HEADS AND
TIGHTLY BOUND THEIR HANDS AND FEET
>> EDUARDO WAS HYSTERICAL. I DON'T THINK HE WAS COMPLETELY
HEARING ME HE PROBABLY HAD A CONCUSSION
>> Reporter: THE SUV SPED AWAY JAYNE TRIED TO COMFORT EDUARDO
ONE OF THE ABDUCTORS THREATENED MORE PAIN.
>> HE KEPT YELLING AT HIM, "SHUT UP, YOU --, OR I'LL GIVE YOU
ANOTHER ONE. >> Reporter: AT THAT MOMENT,
OLDEST SON FERNANDO WAS WITH CLASSMATES ON A BUS RIGHT BEHIND
THE SUVS >> I SAW THE TWO CARS FLY DOWN
THE STRAIGHT ROAD AND TAKE A LEFT TOWARDS SAN MIGUEL.
AND IT WAS WEIRD TO ME TO SEE TWO HUGE SUVS GOING THAT FAST.
>> Reporter: YOU SAW THEM BEING TAKEN?
>> NO, I DIDN'T SEE THEM BEING TAKEN.
BUT I -- I -- YOU KNOW, THEY WERE IN THE TWO CARS RIGHT IN
FRONT OF ME, AND I DIDN'T KNOW I HAD NO IDEA.
>> Reporter: IN THE SUV, UNDER THAT GAGGING PILLOWCASE, JAYNE
STRUGGLED TO BREATHE SHE REACHED OUT FOR EDUARDO.
>> I FELT BLOOD ALL DOWN HIS ARM.
>> Reporter: THEN SHE FELT THE BLOOD POURING FROM HER OWN
SLASHED FINGER SHE TRIED TO MEMORIZE EACH BUMP
AND TURN AS THE SUV VEERED ONTO THE HIGHWAY TOWARD SAN MIGUEL.
THEN, MINUTES LATER, PULLED OVER, STOPPED.
SOMEONE YANKED EDUARDO FROM THE SUV.
HE SCREAMED. >> I HEAR THE DOORS OF THE
VEHICLE OPEN AND AFTER I HEAR THEM SHUT, I
CAN NO LONGER HEAR MY HUSBAND'S MUFFLED SCREAMS.
>> Reporter: JAYNE MANAGED TO LIFT THE PILLOWCASE HOOD IN TIME
TO SEE EDUARDO VANISH AND REALIZED SHE WAS ALONE
THEY'D ALL LEFT. >> I WAS BOUND, SO I THREW
MYSELF OVER THE SEAT, ENDED UP IN THE FLOOR, PULLED MYSELF UP,
OPENED THE DOOR AND LITERALLY HOPPED AS IF I WAS IN A SACK
RACE TO THE HIGHWAY IN FLIP FLOPS.
>> Reporter: AN ELDERLY MAN STOPPED TO HELP.
HE HAD A MACHETE, BUT NO CELL PHONE TO CALL POLICE
FRANTICALLY, JAYNE TRIED TO FLAG DOWN PASSING CARS.
ALL HIT THE ACCELERATOR, NOT THE BRAKE.
>> I IMAGINE IT LOOKED PRETTY SCARY TO SEE A WOMAN BLEEDING,
DESPERATE, BOUND IN DUCT TAPE NEXT TO A GUY WITH A MACHETE
>> Reporter: THEN, IN SHEER DESPERATION, JAYNE STEPPED IN
FRONT OF AN ONCOMING BUS >> I JUMPED IN FRONT AND I JUST
PUT MY HANDS UP LIKE THIS. AND I HOPED HE WOULD STOP.
>> Reporter: BUT NO CELL PHONE ON THE BUS, EITHER
NOW THE BUS DRIVER FLAGGED DOWN A TAXI
AND THE TAXI DRIVER CALLED THE POLICE
>> I THOUGHT FOR SURE THEY WOULD JUST RUN OFF IN EVERY DIRECTION,
SEAL OFF SAN MIGUEL AND WE'D HAVE HIM, END OF STORY
BUT IT DIDN'T GO THAT WAY. >> Reporter: NO, IT DIDN'T
EDUARDO HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND THEN, AS IF MORE TERROR WAS
POSSIBLE, POLICE TOOK JAYNE BACK TO WHERE SHE WAS ABANDONED
AND THERE ON THE GROUND WAS A LETTER ADDRESSED TO HER.
>> WELL, I REALIZED THEY SPELLED MY NAME CORRECTLY.
MY NAME IS JAYNE, SPELLED WITH A "Y."
SO IT WAS REALLY SCARY TO SEE ON THE ENVELOPE THAT THEY'D
ACTUALLY SPELLED MY NAME RIGHT >> Reporter: NOBODY SPELLS YOUR
NAME RIGHT >> NO, NO.
>> Reporter: AND INSIDE THE ENVELOPE
>> THE RANSOM NOTE SAYS, "SENORA, GO HOME, OPEN THIS
EMAIL WITH THIS PASSWORD AND WE HAVE EDUARDO.
EDUARDO IS WITH US WAIT FOR OUR MESSAGE TO ARRIVE."
>> Reporter: IT WAS THEN SHE UNDERSTOOD
THE KIDNAPPERS HAD BEEN WATCHING THEM, STALKING THEM, RESEARCHING
EVERY SMALL DETAIL >> IT IMMEDIATELY MADE ME
REALIZE I NEEDED TO BE VERY CAREFUL AND VERY SMART ABOUT THE
CHOICES I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE. MY HUSBAND'S LIFE WAS ON THE
LINE >>> COMING UP --
REALITY SETS IN. WHAT WOULD SHE TELL THE
CHILDREN >> I WAS CONFUSED.
>> I WAS VERY CONFUSED >> I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE IT,
WHETHER TO CRY, WHETHER TO BE MAD.
>> AND WHO WOULD SHE TURN TO FOR HELP
>> I THOUGHT, "THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SENDING ME TO DEAL WITH
THIS?" >> Reporter: JAYNE VALSECA SAT
IN THE DIRT BY THE HIGHWAY ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAN MIGUEL DE
ALLENDE. A COP HELPED HER STRIP AWAY THE
DUCT TAPE AROUND HER HANDS AND FEET
SHE TRIED TO STAUNCH THE BLOOD FROM HER INJURED FINGER, GASHED
ON THAT BARBED WIRE FENCE. SHE TRIED TO TAMP DOWN THE
TERROR THAT GRABBED AT HER THROAT
JAYNE HAD READ ABOUT BRUTAL KIDNAPPINGS IN MEXICO CITY,
WHERE VICTIMS' FINGERS WERE CUT OFF AND DELIVERED WITH RANSOM
DEMANDS. BUT THIS WAS SAFE, LITTLE SAN
MIGUEL, WHERE EDUARDO HAD ALWAYS SAID -
>> "DO YOU THINK ANYBODY'S GONNA COME OUT HERE IN THE COUNTRY
YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN."
>> Reporter: BUT IT HAD HAPPENED
AND ALL SHE COULD THINK OF WAS FINDING HELP FAST.
>> I'M SITTING THERE IN THE DIRT, IN NEED OF STITCHES, AND
I -- AT THAT POINT, I HAVE TWO CELL PHONES GOING.
>> Reporter: BUT WHY WOULDN'T THE POLICE JUST TAKE
OVER WELL, NO
JAYNE, HERSELF, IN THIS SUPREMELY VULNERABLE MOMENT,
WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH POLICE, IF ANY, SHE COULD TRUST
TO GET HER HUSBAND BACK. >> YOU CAN ALLOW THE LOCAL OR
STATE POLICE TO HANDLE THE SITUATION.
YOU CAN GO TO THE MEXICAN EQUIVALENT OF THE FBI, WHICH IS
THE AFI, OR AFEE OR YOU CAN GO TO A PRIVATE
CONSULTANT THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY OUT OF -- OUT OF YOUR OWN
POCKET, AND THEY WILL NEGOTIATE IT PRIVATELY
>> Reporter: SO AS CARS WHIZZED BY AND THE DIRT-CAKED BLOOD
DRIED ON HER SKIN, JAYNE PLACED CALLS ALL AROUND THE WORLD TO
PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT SPECIALIZE IN KIDNAP
NEGOTIATION. >> THEY KNEW ALL THE QUESTIONS
TO ASK THEY SAID, "HOW MANY VEHICLES
WERE -- WERE INVOLVED? WHAT DID THE NOTE SAY?
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PEOPLE? WHAT DID THEIR GUNS LOOK LIKE?
>> Reporter: MUST BE A SOPHISTICATED OPERATION, THEY
TOLD JAYNE NEGOTIATING WOULD BE DIFFICULT
AND EXPENSIVE. AT LEAST $2,500 U.S. A DAY, PLUS
EXPENSES, FAR MORE THAN SHE COULD AFFORD
SO JAYNE DECIDED TO ENLIST THE MEXICAN VERSION OF THE FBI,
THE AF-FEE, THE ELITE UNIT OF THE MEXICAN POLICE
SHE MADE THE CALL, WENT BACK AT THE RANCH, CLEANED UP HER WOUNDS
AND TOLD 6-YEAR-OLD NAYAH AND 7-YEAR-OLD EMILIANO THAT THEIR
FATHER WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP. >> I WAS CONFUSED.
>> I WAS VERY CONFUSED I TRIED TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE WHOLE SITUATION. BUT THE BEST THAT I COULD GET
WAS A, YOU KNOW, PG VERSION OF WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON
>> Reporter: BUT FERNANDO WAS 12
HE HAD TO BE TOLD. AND ANYWAY, SHE NEEDED HIM NOW
>> SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING, "WE WERE BOTH, YOUR DAD AND I, ON
THE WAY BACK FROM DROPPING YOU GUYS OFF AT SCHOOL
WE WERE WE WERE KIDNAPPED, AND THEY TOOK YOUR FATHER.
>> I JUST SAID TO HIM, YOU KNOW, "YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT I WILL DO
EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE TO GET YOUR FATHER BACK
IF IT TAKES EVERYTHING WE HAVE, EVERYTHING I CAN HUMANLY DO.
>> Reporter: SUDDENLY FERNANDO UNDERSTOOD THE SPEEDING SUVS
HE'D SEEN THAT MORNING >> I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE IT,
YOU KNOW, WHETHER TO CRY, WHETHER TO BE MAD, WHETHER TO --
JUST SHOCK >> Reporter: FERNANDO FLED THEN,
WENT TO HIS SECRET, PRIVATE PLACE, A RISE FROM WHICH HE
COULD SEE THE REST OF THE RANCH. >> I GRABBED MY KEYS AND THREW
ON THE HELMET AND WENT FOR A RIDE AND, YOU KNOW, STARTED
CRYING AND BAWLING MY EYES OUT >> Reporter: JAYNE, MEANWHILE,
HAD ONE MORE CRUCIAL CALL TO HER MOTHER, ALSO NAMED JANE.
SHE LIVED IN HER OWN HOUSE ON THE RANCH MOST OF THE YEAR, BUT
THAT DAY, SHE WAS HOME IN VIRGINIA
>> JAYNE CALLED AND SHE SAYS, "MOM, SIT DOWN
I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU." AND, OF COURSE, I DIDN'T SIT
DOWN I SAID, "WHAT IS IT?
AND SHE SAID, "WELL, EDUARDO'S BEEN KIDNAPPED."
>> Reporter: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO HEAR THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I LOST IT I GRABBED A SUITCASE AND I THREW
IN A TOOTHBRUSH AND -- AND I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHAT I NEEDED
TO TAKE. >> Reporter: NOW IT WAS EVENING.
>> I'M HOPING THAT I'LL GET HOME, LIKE THEY TOLD ME.
I'LL OPEN THE EMAIL. THERE WILL BE A MESSAGE.
AND WHATEVER I HAVE ACCESS TO, THEY CAN HAVE IT ALL, OKAY
JUST GIVE HIM BACK SO I'M -- I'M, AT THAT POINT,
HOPING THIS IS GONNA BE OPEN AND SHUT DEAL IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS.
>> Reporter: JAYNE GOT READY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE FEDERAL AFI
AGENT. THE FEDERAL POLICE HAD PROMISED
HE WOULD MOVE IN RIGHT AWAY AND LIVE ON THE RANCH UNTIL HE GOT
EDUARDO BACK SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS WAITING
FOR THE CAVALRY TO ARRIVE. SHE LET HOPE GROW.
>> I EXPECTED HIM TO ROLL IN IN SOME KIND OF BULLETPROOF
SUBURBAN AND BE BIG AND BURLY AND HOPEFULLY A LITTLE MATURE
AND -- AND HAVING DONE THIS QUITE A WHILE.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, FINALLY, AT 3:00 A.M., THE AFI AGENT
CALLED COULD SOMEONE COME AND PICK HIM
UP IN TOWN, HE ASKED HE HAD COME FROM MEXICO CITY BY
BUS. >> HE LOOKED LIKE A HIGH SCHOOL
OR MAYBE FRESHMAN IN COLLEGE STUDENT, WITH A BACKPACK, A
BASEBALL CAP, GLASSES, TINY. AND I THOUGHT, "WHAT IS GOING
ON YOU MEAN THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE
SENDING ME TO DEAL WITH THIS?" AND SO THE FIRST THINGS I ASKED
HIM AFTER SHAKING HIS HAND WAS, "ARE YOU ARMED?"
AND HE SAID NO AND I SAID, "WHY NOT, FOR GOD'S
SAKE?" >> Reporter: SEASONED CRIMINALS
HAD ENGINEERED A SEAMLESS PLAN TO STEAL HER HUSBAND
AND ALL SHE HAD ON HER SIDE WAS A SHORT, SKINNY KID WITH NO
APPARENT BACKUP, NO CAR AND NO GUN.
>>> COMING UP -- >> SHE FELT LIKE HER WHOLE WORLD
COLLAPSED. >> KIDNAPPERS SEND A MESSAGE
FROM THE SHADOWS A DEMAND IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP.
>> NOW I'M THINKING THAT THEY'RE -- THEY'RE JUST GONNA
>> Reporter: JAYNE STARED AT THE KID FROM AFI WITH WHAT COULD
ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS DISMAY. HER HUSBAND EDUARDO HAD BEEN
KIDNAPPED. SHE WAS FRANTIC.
AND NOW THE FEDERAL POLICE HAD SENT HER AN UNARMED BOY.
THE YOUNG MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT JAYNE, SAW HER DISAPPOINTMENT
AND THEN SPOKE >> HE HAD A VERY CONFIDENT SMILE
ON HIS FACE. TAKES OFF HIS GLASSES AND HAT
AND SAYS, "LOOK, WOULD YOU REALLY WANT ME ARRIVING IN A
BULLETPROOF SUBURBAN AND COMING OUT WITH A MACHINE GUN
HOW WOULD THAT LOOK IF YOU'RE BEING WATCHED?
WE COULD BE PUTTING YOUR HUSBAND AT RISK.
>> Reporter: THE AGENT, JAYNE LEARNED, WAS OLDER THAN HE
LOOKED, WAS AN EXPERIENCED HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR
HE BROUGHT HIS WEAPON INTO JAYNE'S HOUSE.
IT WAS A LAPTOP COMPUTER >> HE ACTUALLY SELECTED A PLACE
HERE IN THE DINING ROOM WHERE HE WOULD ONLY BE THE ONE -- HE
WOULD BE THE ONLY ONE TO SEE HIS COMPUTER SCREEN.
HE WAS IN A SPOT WHERE HE COULD SEE ALL THE GOINGS ON IN THE
HOUSE. >> Reporter: HIS NAME IS A
FEDERAL SECRET HIS FACE A BLANK
OUR INTERVIEW REQUEST WENT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
WE WERE DENIED WE DO KNOW HE WAS CONSTANTLY
ONLINE WITH A TEAM OF AGENTS IN MEXICO CITY, ANALYZING WHAT
CLUES THEY HAD, ADVISING JAYNE'S AGENT ON STRATEGY.
NOT JUST JAYNE'S AGENT, OF COURSE
>> Translator: WE HAVE AS MANY AS 25 KIDNAPPINGS AT A TIME.
>> Reporter: AND HERE, IN A GIANT ROOM THAT LOOKS LIKE NASA,
MORE AGENTS TRACK HUNDREDS OF SURVEILLANCE SITES AROUND THE
COUNTRY. BUT ON DAY ONE, ALL THAT
EXPERTISE COUGHED UP ONLY THIS ONE PIECE OF VERY BAD NEWS
THE PEOPLE WHO GRABBED EDUARDO WERE ALMOST CERTAINLY, SAID THE
POLICE, PART OF A FRINGE MARXIST POLITICAL GROUP CALLED THE EPR
JAYNE'S AGENT CONSIDERED THE EVIDENCE AND OFFERED A DISMAL
PREDICTION >> "THIS IS NOT GONNA BE OVER IN
24 HOURS, LIKE YOU'D LIKE. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS NOT
A MATTER OF DAYS OR WEEKS. BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
WITH THIS PARTICULAR GROUP, THIS IS GOING TO BE MONTHS, IF YOU'RE
LUCKY. >> Reporter: WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO
HEAR THAT? >> I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GO
CRAZY. I THOUGHT FOR SURE I'D HAVE A
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN RIGHT THEN AND THERE.
>> Reporter: JAYNE'S 7-YEAR-OLD, EMILIANO, LOOKED ON, HELPLESS.
>> I REMEMBER OPENING THE DOOR AND SEEING THAT LOOK IN HER
EYES >> Reporter: WHAT LOOK
>> SHE FELT LIKE HER WHOLE WORLD COLLAPSED, AND I COULD SEE THAT
THROUGH HER EYES AND I COULDN'T REALLY
COMMUNICATE AND TRY TO HELP HER BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW HOW.
>> Reporter: IN HISTORIC SAN MIGUEL, THOUGH EDUARDO WAS A
PROMINENT LOCAL CITIZEN, LIFE WENT ON AS IF NOTHING HAD
HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN A KNOWN
ANTI-POVERTY ACTIVIST, A PANELIST ON A LOCAL TV SHOW.
IN FACT, THIS IS A RECORDING OF THE VERY BROADCAST AIRED THE
NIGHT BEFORE HE WAS TAKEN. THIS IS THE HOST OF THE SHOW,
LUCY NUNEZ, CO-OWNER OF THE TV STATION.
BUT WHAT WAS SHE ABLE TO DO TO FREE HER FRIEND EDUARDO OR FIND
HIS KIDNAPPERS NOT A THING.
HOW OFTEN WAS IT REPORTED ON THE TELEVISION OR RADIO?
>> NO, WE NEVER SAID ANYTHING. >> Reporter: A REQUEST, SHE
SAID, FROM THE FEDERAL POLICE. >> THEY SAID NO COMMENTS IN THE
RADIO STATION, NO COMMENTS IN THE CHANNEL BECAUSE WE DON'T
WANT THESE PEOPLE TO BE AFRAID OR WHATEVER.
AND THEY COULD DO SOMETHING TO EDUARDO.
SO IT WAS, LIKE, MOUTH CLOSED. EVERYBODY WAS ACTING AS IF
NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. >> Reporter: EVERYBODY, PERHAPS,
BUT JAYNE. "REMEMBER," THE KIDNAPPERS SAID,
"GO HOME YOU'LL GET AN EMAIL WITH OUR
DEMANDS. BUT ON DAY ONE, THERE WAS NO
EMAIL, NOR ON DAY TWO, NOR THREE, NOR DAY FOUR.
AND THEN, AFTER FIVE FULL DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SLEEPLESS TORTURE,
JAYNE TURNED ON HER COMPUTER AND READ THE NEWS.
>> "FOR THE LIBERATION OF EDUARDO WE ARE DEMANDING THE
AMOUNT OF $8 MILLION U.S." >> Reporter: $8 MILLION.
"SEND THE MONEY," SAID THE EMAIL, "IN U.S. CURRENCY,
$100 BILLS." >> AND NOW I'M THINKING
THEY'RE -- THEY'RE JUST GONNA KILL HIM
BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF CASH.
>> Reporter: ANYBODY FAMILIAR WITH THE IDYLLIC RANCH HERE
OUTSIDE SAN MIGUEL, ANYBODY WHO HAD HEARD OF EDUARDO, SCION OF A
FAMOUS PUBLISHING EMPIRE, MIGHT QUITE REASONABLY HAVE ASSUMED
RICH THE KIDNAPPERS MADE A MISTAKE,
THOUGH, BECAUSE THE WEALTH THE VALSECAS HAD WAS ALL IN THE
PROPERTY AND BESIDES, WHATEVER SIGNING
AUTHORITY EXISTED WAS WITH EDUARDO, NOT JAYNE
THEY TOOK THE WRONG VALSECA. >> I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO
ANYTHING, REALLY, BEYOND OUR - WHAT WAS IN OUR CHECKING
ACCOUNT. >> Reporter: THE FACT OF THE
MATTER WAS THE VALSECAS WERE HOUSE POOR
THEY'D PUT EVERYTHING THEY HAD INTO THE RANCH
AND AT RECESSION PRICES, EVEN IF SHE COULD SELL IT, SHE'D GET A
SMALL FRACTION OF $8 MILLION THERE, IN THE DINING ROOM, JAYNE
SHOWED THE EMAIL TO HER AFI AGENT AND REALIZED HE WAS NOT
SURPRISED. >> "YOU KNOW, JAYNE, YOU HAVE TO
REALIZE THAT THIS IS THE WAY THIS WORKS
YOU'RE GONNA BE LEARNING THE ROPES HERE
THEY HOPE TO GET THAT AMOUNT BUT THIS IS WHERE WE START
NEGOTIATING. >> Reporter: THE KIDNAPPERS SET
THE RULES. RULE ONE -- JAYNE MUST
COMMUNICATE WITH THEM ONLY THROUGH WANT ADS IN A SPECIFIC
NEWSPAPER. HER FIRST AD, THEY DEMANDED,
WOULD GO IN THE "ANIMALS AND PETS" SECTION.
SHE WROTE IN CODE, "LOOKING TO BUY A CHOW CHOW DOG, VACCINATED
WITH COMPLETE PEDIGREE." THEY STARTED OUT AT $8 MILLION
WHAT DID YOU RESPOND >> "WE'RE VERY CONCERNED FOR THE
PUPPY'S WELLBEING, AND YOUR REQUEST IS BEYOND OUR ECONOMIC
POSSIBILITIES. >> Reporter: JUST THAT
>> UH-HUH. >> Reporter: AND THEN WAITED
>> AND THEN WAITED >>> COMING UP --
AT LAST, WORD FROM EDUARDO HEARTBREAKING LETTERS.
HARROWING PHOTOS >> I OPENED UP PICTURES THAT I
WISH I HADN'T SEEN >> AND ONE AGONIZING PHONE CALL.
>> I TOLD HIM HOW MUCH I LOVED HIM AND THAT I WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO GET HIM BACK. >> Reporter: LIFE AT JAYNE AND
EDUARDO'S RANCH WAS DIVIDED NOW INTO THE JOYOUS BEFORE AND THE
SOMBER AFTER JAYNE'S MOTHER MOVED IN WITH HER
DAUGHTER AND HER CHILDREN CLEARLY HURTING.
>> EMILIANO HAD A MELTDOWN, SAYING THAT WE WERE ALL LYING TO
HIM. AND, AT THAT POINT, IT'S REALLY
AMAZING HOW FERNANDO IS SUCH AN AMAZING KID.
HE -- HE JUST PUT THEIR BEDS TOGETHER AND HE SAYS, "COME ON,
EMILIANO WE KNOW DAD'S COMIN' BACK.
BUT WE'RE NOT LYIN' TO YOU." >> Reporter: JAYNE DECIDED SHE
HAD TO TELL THE TWO YOUNG ONES THE TRUTH.
THERE WAS NO BUSINESS TRIP >> I STILL DIDN'T UNDERSTAND
LIKE, I -- AT FIRST, I WAS LIKE, "WHAT DOES KIDNAPPED MEAN?
>> SHE SAID, "LOOK, YOUR FATHER HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US BY BAD
GUYS WE NEED TO KEEP THIS A SECRET.
YOU MAY NOT TELL ANYONE IN SCHOOL."
>> Reporter: DID YOU KEEP IT A SECRET
>> I KEPT IT A SECRET 100% >> Reporter: WHY A SECRET?
THE FEDERAL AGENT KNEW THE FAMILY WAS BEING WATCHED, SPIED
ON DAYS AND NIGHTS IF THE KIDS TALKED, MAYBE THE
KIDNAPPERS WOULD HEAR. >> WE HAD A BONFIRE OUT ON THE
COBBLESTONES AND WE WERE SAYING PRAYERS FOR
EDUARDO. AND SUDDENLY, JAYNE SAYS, "GET
IN THE HOUSE GET IN THE HOUSE."
AND THE AFI AGENT HAD SIGNALED HER.
AND HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS SOMEBODY WATCHING US NEARBY IN
THE GRASS, WHICH WAS REALLY CLOSE BY
>> Reporter: JAYNE AND HER FEDERAL POLICE ADVISOR DUTIFULLY
PLACED THOSE BIZARRE WANT ADS SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE
$8 MILLION U.S. RANSOM AND THE RESPONSE
A FEW WEEKS INTO THE ORDEAL, EDUARDO'S KIDNAPPERS TURNED UP
THE PRESSURE THEY BEGAN INCLUDING, IN THEIR
UNTRACEABLE EMAILS, LETTERS FROM EDUARDO HIMSELF.
"I'M SUFFERING MORE THAN I CAN MANAGE
THEY BEAT ME THEY TIE ME UP
I'M NAKED. I HAVEN'T EATEN.
I'M GOING CRAZY. I CAN'T HANDLE THIS TORTURE
ANYMORE. >> IT WAS HORRIBLE
IT DESTROYED ME. >> Reporter: SO SHE BEGAN
SELLING THINGS FIRST TO GO, THE SPANISH HORSES
EDUARDO LOVED SO MUCH, SOLD FOR A FRACTION OF THEIR VALUE.
>> UM, I SOLD SHEEP. I SOLD MACHINERY
EVERYTHING I COULD SELL, I SOLD. >> Reporter: ALL AT FIRE SALE
PRICES >> UH-HUH.
>> I REMEMBER TAKING OUT ALL MY MONEY FROM MY PIGGY BANK AND
JUST GIVING IT TO MY MOM AND SAYING, "HERE, PLEASE JUST USE
THIS TO GET DAD BACK I JUST WANT HIM BACK."
>> Reporter: ALL OF IT MADE HARDLY A DENT.
THEY WANTED $8 MILLION SHE RAISED $20,000
>> THEY HAD STARTED SAYING IN THEIR EMAILS TO ME THAT IF I
DIDN'T COME UP WITH THE MONEY ON A CERTAIN DATE, THAT THEY WERE
GOING TO START CUTTING OFF HIS FINGERS.
>> Reporter: AND WHEN JAYNE DIDN'T -- COULDN'T -- PAY, THE
ANSWER WAS SWIFT >> IT SAID THAT -- THAT I'VE
BEEN FOOLING AROUND ENOUGH AND THAT EDUARDO HAD SENT ME A
PACKAGE. >> Reporter: SHE WAS HORRIFIED
WAS IT HIS FINGERS THE FEDERAL AGENT, AFRAID FOR
JAYNE'S SAFETY, SENT SOMEONE ELSE TO FOLLOW THE KIDNAPPERS'
DIRECTIONS TO THE BURIED PACKAGE WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
AND? IT WAS NOT SEVERED FINGERS
IT WAS A SHEAF OF IOUs, SIGNED BY EDUARDO
WITH THESE, WROTE THE KIDNAPPERS, JAYNE COULD GET A
LOAN FOR THE RANSOM. >> I WAS SUPPOSED TO NOW
HOPEFULLY BE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN RAISING FUNDS THAT WAY
>> Reporter: OH, SHE TRIED BUT LOCAL BUSINESSMEN DISMISSED
THE IOUs AS LIKELY FORGERIES SUMMER PASSED.
AND THEN, OCTOBER, FOUR MONTHS INTO HIS CAPTIVITY, THE CHILDREN
PULLED OUT OLD HOME VIDEOS AND HUDDLED IN THEIR MOTHER'S BED.
>> FOR A LONG TIME, THE KIDS WATCHED IT EVERY SINGLE DAY
AFTER SCHOOL SOMETIMES WHEN THEY WEREN'T
AROUND, I'D GO IN AND JUST WATCH THE PART WHERE HE BLEW ME THE
KISS AND SAID "I LOVE YOU" AGAIN AND AGAIN.
>> I LOVE YOU. >> Reporter: DAY OF THE DEAD
REVELERS PARADED SAN MIGUEL STREETS IN NOVEMBER.
THE KIDNAPPERS SHOWED JAYNE HOW NEAR DEATH THEY WERE WILLING TO
TAKE EDUARDO THE EMAIL -- EDUARDO IS GOING TO
RECEIVE HIS FIRST GUNSHOT IN HIS LEFT LEG UNLESS THERE IS A
CHANGE IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OFFERED TO SEVEN FIGURES
IT WASN'T A BLUFF. A PHOTO FOLLOWED WITH THE BLOODY
PROOF. >> I SNAPPED THAT DAY.
I -- I COULDN'T CRY. I -- I DIDN'T REACT.
>> Reporter: DID YOU SEE THESE PHOTOGRAPHS OF EDUARDO
>> I TOLD MY AGENT THAT HE NEEDED TO START BEING MY FILTER.
THAT I WOULD NOT BE READING ANY MORE LETTERS, AND I WOULD NOT
LOOK AT ANY PHOTOGRAPHS IF HE WANTED ME TO GET THROUGH THIS
AND GET THROUGH THIS SANE. >> Reporter: NOR DID JAYNE SHARE
THE PHOTOS OR LETTERS WITH THE CHILDREN
OR SO SHE THOUGHT. >> I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE
MY MOM WAS COMING FROM, NOT TELLING ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS
GOING ON BUT I HAD THIS URGE TO KNOW.
AND -- >> Reporter: SO WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> AND I WENT ONTO HER EMAIL AND -- AND OPENED UP PICTURES
THAT I WISH I HADN'T SEEN. IT WAS A PICTURE OF MY FATHER
WITH NO CLOTHES ON IN A BOX
WITH DUCT TAPE OVER HIS EYES AROUND HIS HEAD.
UM >> Reporter: OH, MY GOD.
>> BUT THERE WAS BLOOD EVERYWHERE
>> Reporter: SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THAT INFORMATION?
THAT -- THAT PICTURE THAT IMAGE
>> KEPT IT INSIDE. I JUST KEPT IT INSIDE.
>> Reporter: TWO WEEKS LATER, THEY SHOT EDUARDO AGAIN, THIS
TIME IN AN ARM THEN THE PHONE CALLS BEGAN
>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE SOMEONE DISGUISING THEIR VOICE, AND
THAT'S WHAT I HAD BEEN TRAINED FOR.
>> Reporter: THE AGENT HAD WARNED HER IT MIGHT HAPPEN, HAD
EVEN PREPARED DIALOGUE FOR HER BOARD HANDY SO HE COULD PROMPT
HER. BUT IT WASN'T THE KIDNAPPERS WHO
GOT ON THE PHONE >> I WAS SHAKING
I DIDN'T -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
>> Reporter: IT WAS EDUARDO. BUT THE THINGS HE SAID
THIS COULD NOT BE THE MAN SHE LOVED.
BUT IT WAS >> AND THEN HE STARTED CALLING
ME NAMES "YOU'RE SUCH A BITCH
HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? IT'S MY MONEY.
IT WAS MORE OF THE SAME THAT I'D BEEN GETTING IN THE LETTERS THAT
THEY HAD FORCED HIM TO WRITE >> Reporter: SHE TURNED TO THE
YOUNG FEDERAL AGENT. >> AND HE TOLD ME, "JAYNE,
YOU'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS YOU CAN DO THIS.
JUST RELAX." >> Reporter: THEY KNEW, BOTH OF
THEM. HE'D BEEN GIVEN A SCRIPT TO
READ >> WE WERE BOTH PLAYING A ROLE
AFTER I ANSWERED THE IMMEDIATE QUESTIONS AND GOT THE
INFORMATION THAT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HEARD, WHICH
WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO SAVE HIS LIFE
THEN I SAID -- I CHANGED MY TONE AND IN CAME ME
[ CRYING ] AND I TOLD HIM HOW MUCH I LOVED
HIM AND HOW MUCH HIS KIDS MISSED HIM AND THAT I WOULD DO ANYTHING
TO GET HIM BACK AND THAT THE MONEY DIDN'T MATTER.
I'D GIVE HIM EVERYTHING I COULD. AND THEN I COULD HEAR HIS -- HIS
TONE CHANGED COMPLETELY. AND -- AND IT WAS THE REAL HIM
HE TOLD ME HE LOVED ME, TOO. THEN HE HUNG UP ON HIM
>> Reporter: A JOYLESS CHRISTMAS ARRIVED.
AND THEN NEW YEARS HOW LONG BEFORE THEY KILLED HIM?
>> COMING UP - >> I KINDA KNEW IN MY HEART THAT
I WOULD NEVER SEE MY FATHER AGAIN.
>> DESPAIR SETS IN >> SHE THREW THE TELEPHONE
ACROSS THE ROOM AND HIT THE WALL
SHE WAS SO ANGRY WITH THEM >> THEN FROM THE SHADOWS, A
LIGHT. >> Reporter: GOSSIP, AS EVERYONE
KNOWS, HAS A WAY OF SNEAKING PAST EVEN THE MOST DETERMINED
EFFORTS OF OFFICIAL SECRET-KEEPERS
AND SOON SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE CHEWED WARILY ON A STORY THAT
MADE THE ROUNDS -- EDUARDO VALSECA, KIDNAPPED
HE MUST HAVE MADE ENEMIES, WENT THE STORY, AND THIS WAS PAYBACK.
HE WAS PROBABLY ALREADY DEAD >> FRIENDS WOULD SAY THINGS TO
ME LIKE, "OH, JAYNE, I'M SO SORRY ABOUT EDUARDO, WE LIKED
HIM SO MUCH. AND SPEAK ABOUT HIM IN THE PAST
TENSE AS IF HE WERE DEAD >> Reporter: EVEN ON THE
PLAYGROUND, CLASSMATES TOLD JAYNE'S CHILDREN TO GIVE UP
HOPE >> THE LITTLE KIDS WOULD GO UP
TO MY CHILDREN AND SAY THINGS LIKE, "OH, I HEARD YOUR DADDY'S
DEAD, THAT THEY FOUND HIM IN A PLASTIC BAG IN THE PARQUE
JUAREZ." >> I'D SAY THAT WAS AROUND THE
SIXTH MONTH, THAT I -- I KINDA KNEW IN MY HEART THAT I WOULD
NEVER SEE MY -- MY FATHER AGAIN. >> Reporter: AND EVEN IF THEY
DID? >> IF HE'S GOING TO COME BACK
SANE IF HE'S GOING TO COME BACK
CRAZY. IF HE'S GOING TO COME BACK, YOU
KNOW, HAVING TO BE IN A MENTAL INSTITUTION.
>> Reporter: AND JAYNE WELL, THIS IS HER MOTHER WHO
HEARD JAYNE TALKING TO THE KIDNAPPERS
>> SHE WOULD CRY AND YELL AT THEM ON THE TELEPHONE.
AND WITH -- AND ONCE, WHEN THEY HUNG UP ON HER, SHE THREW THE
TELEPHONE ACROSS THE ROOM AND HIT THE WALL AND BROKE THE
PHONE. SHE WAS SO ANGRY WITH THEM
YOU -- YOU CAN EITHER COLLAPSE OR CHALLENGE THEM.
>> Reporter: GET SAD OR GET MAD. >> AS THE TIME WENT ON, SHE GOT
ANGRIER AND ANGRIER. >> AND THEN JAYNE WOULD TURN ON
HER COMPUTER TO FIND MESSAGES FROM A MAN BARELY HANGING ON
I NEED YOU LIKE NEVER BEFORE HELP ME.
BE COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS ME. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
SHE HAD TROUBLES OF HER OWN, BY THE WAY, BREAST CANCER
BUT SHE KEPT THAT TO HERSELF AND AS THE ORDEAL CONTINUED, SHE
OCCASIONALLY SLIPPED OFF TO AMERICA FOR TESTS.
>> I -- I JUST GOT THERE I WOULD HAVE MRIS AND BLOOD
TESTS, AND VISITS WITH THE ONCOLOGIST
AND WHATEVER WAS NECESSARY AND -- AND I'D GET BACK ON THE
PLANE, AND COME BACK >> Reporter: SHE GOT AN IDEA
THE KIDNAPPERS WERE OBVIOUSLY WATCHING HER, SO JAYNE VERY
PUBLICLY PULLED UP A MOVING TRUCK, GOT OUT SOME BUBBLE WRAP,
AS IF SHE WAS GIVING UP, LEAVING.
>> SHE WAS PACKING UP THE FURNITURE.
AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME, I HAD TO ASK HER, I SAID, "ARE YOU
MOVING?" ARE YOU GOIN' BACK TO THE
STATES?" >> Reporter: OF COURSE NOT, BUT
THAT BIT OF THEATER SEEMED TO WORK
>> AFTER THAT, MOVING THE FURNITURE AROUND, THE TONE OF
THE EMAILS CHANGED >> Reporter: TO WHAT
>> THEY BEGAN TO DROP THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY WERE ASKING
>> Reporter: NOW INSTEAD OF MILLIONS, THE KIDNAPPERS
DEMANDED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS THAT WAS MONEY SHE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO BORROW FROM SOME WELL-HEELED FRIEND
>> SO I STARTED ASKING PEOPLE AND SOME PEOPLE WOULD TELL ME,
"YEAH, SURE. CALL ME ON SUCH AND SUCH A
DATE." BUT THEN I WOULDN'T GET A --
THEY WOULDN'T ANSWER MY -- MY CALLS OR RETURN MY MESSAGES.
>> Reporter: WHY >> WELL, THAT THEY SOMEHOW BY
HELPING ME THEY WOULD EXPOSE THEMSELVES TO -- TO THIS SORT OF
A THING SOMEHOW. >> Reporter: EDUARDO'S GROWN
CHILDREN FROM HIS EARLIER MARRIAGE DID EVERYTHING THEY
COULD TO HELP, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY.
AND SO THEY ALL FELT VERY ALONE, AS THEY TRIED TO KEEP HOPE GOING
AT THE RANCH >> I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT THE
CAMERA AND GIVE A MESSAGE TO YOUR DADDY BECAUSE HE WILL SEE
THIS WHEN HE GETS BACK >> I LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND HE'S
THE BEST DAD IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, AND I KNOW HE'S COMING
BACK SOON. >> Reporter: AND THEN, QUITE
LITERALLY IN THE DEPTHS OF THEIR DESPAIR, SOMETHING COMPLETELY
UNEXPECTED ONE PERSON, WHOM JAYNE HAD NOT
APPROACHED FOR LOANS, WROTE A BIG CHECK, DEMANDED NO REPAYMENT
OR COLLATERAL. THERE WAS A SINGLE CONDITION -
THE BENEFACTOR'S IDENTITY BE KEPT SECRET.
AND JAYNE FINALLY RECEIVED THE EMAIL SHE'D WORKED SO HARD TO
GET. WE HAVE A DEAL
IT READ -- BE READY TO DELIVER THE MONEY.
THE FINAL AMOUNT, AT THE REQUEST OF THE FAMILY AND POLICE, WAS
WITHHELD A FRACTION OF THE ORIGINAL
DEMAND, BUT IT HAD TO BE IN U.S. $100 BILLS
AND IT HAD TO BE DONE IN SECRET. >> I HAD TO GO IN AND COUNT IT
IN A BACK ROOM AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS ALL IN ORDER.
>> Reporter: THEN SHE CALLED ON HER ACTING SKILLS.
STUFFED DOWN HER ANXIETY AND WALKED OUT OF THE BANK
>> A COUPLE OF PEOPLE RECOGNIZED ME
THIS IS A SMALL TOWN SO, I STOPPED AND TALKED TO
PEOPLE AND -- AND EVEN PUT THE BAG DOWN
ON THE FLOOR BETWEEN MY FEET, AS IF IT WAS A YOGA BAG
I FELT LIKE I WAS STUCK IN A MOVIE THAT I COULDN'T GET OUT
OF >> Reporter: THE AFI AGENT
REFUSED THE KIDNAPPERS' DEMAND THAT A FAMILY MEMBER DELIVER THE
RANSOM, INSTEAD, TWO RANCH EMPLOYEES, BROTHERS, VOLUNTEERED
TO DELIVER THE MONEY BUT -- WAS EDUARDO EVEN ALIVE?
SHE DEMANDED PROOF AND GOT IN RETURN A HEART
STOPPING PHOTO IT WAS HIM, ALL RIGHT.
BUT THE ONCE ROBUST, YOUTHFUL EDUARDO WAS NOW A GAUNT,
EMACIATED STRANGER WOULD THEY LET HIM GO?
SHE WAS AT THEIR MERCY >>> COMING UP --
>> MY STEPSON FOUND OUR AFI AGENT CRYING
>> HER WORKER KIDNAPPED, TOO >> Reporter: NOW YOU'VE GOT NO
EMPLOYEE YOU'VE GOT NO HUSBAND.
YOU'VE GOT NO MONEY. >> THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM
>> SOON THEIR WORLD WOULD CHANGE AGAIN, WITH A STRANGER AT THE
DOOR >> MY MOM LOOKS OUT THERE.
SHE WALKS OVER TO THE WINDOW AND LOOKS CLOSER
>> HE COULD BARELY TALK. HE JUST WHISPERED.
>> Reporter: JAYNE VALSECA WAS DESPERATE TO GET THE RANSOM PAID
AND FREE HER HUSBAND AS DIRECTED, SHE GAVE THE
SATCHEL PACKED WITH CASH TO THE BROTHERS, DROPPED THEM AT A
DESIGNATED HOTEL IN MEXICO CITY AND RETURNED TO SAN MIGUEL WHILE
THE BROTHERS WAITED WITH THE BAG OF MONEY
TWO DAYS AND THEN, FINALLY, AN EMAIL WITH
INSTRUCTIONS WEAR SUMMER CLOTHES, THOUGH IT
WAS WINTER MARK A LETTER "T" ON THEIR CAR
WITH DUCT TAPE BRING NO WEAPONS, NO CELL
PHONES THE ADDRESS WAS A FRIED CHICKEN
PLACE WHERE THEY FOUND A NOTE TAPED TO A PAY PHONE
MORE DIRECTIONS. AND ON IT WENT, A MACABRE
SCAVENGER HUNT, FROM RESTAURANT TO CONVENIENCE STORE TO
RESTAURANT EACH STOP WITH A NOTE ON A PAY
PHONE AND A MAP TO THE NEXT LOCATION
FOR HOURS THEY DROVE THE GIANT CITY
>> IN THE FINAL NOTE, ON THE INSIDE, THE NOTE SAID, "THIS IS
A PHOTOGRAPH MAKE SURE THAT THE PERSON THAT
MEETS YOU AT THE NEXT DESTINATION HAS THE MISSING
PIECE. >> Reporter: IT WAS THE PROOF OF
LIFE PHOTO, WITH A HOLE WHERE EDUARDO'S FACE SHOULD BE
>> HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO DOWN A DARK ALLEY AT A SPECIFIC SPOT
AND MEET THIS PERSON WHO WOULD HAVE THE OTHER PIECE OF THE
PHOTOGRAPH >> Reporter: NOW THE BROTHERS
UNDERSTOOD IT WAS AT AN END, AND THEY FOLLOWED THE KIDNAPPERS
DIRECTIONS WITH ABSOLUTE PRECISION.
THERE WERE EYES ON THEM. THEY KNEW IT
THEY PULLED UP TO THE END OF AN ALLEY AS THEY HAD BEEN ORDERED
ONE OF THE BROTHERS PICKED UP THE BAG OF MONEY, OPENED THE
DOOR, GOT OUT OF THE CAR, WALKED DOWN THE ALLEY AND, TO THE
REMAINING BROTHER'S HORROR, DISAPPEARED.
A STRANGE CAR HOVERED NEARBY AS IF TO GUARD THE EXCHANGE
IT WAS A POLICE CAR. AT THE VALSECA RANCH HOUSE IN
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, JAYNE AND THE FEDERAL AGENT HUDDLED AROUND
THE DINING ROOM TABLE AND WAITED
HOURS PASSED, AN ETERNITY. THE TENSION IN THE ROOM BECAME
UNBEARABLE THEN, FINALLY, ONE OF THE TWO
BROTHERS JAYNE HAD SENT TO DROP THE RANSOM MADE CONTACT.
HE WAS STILL SITTING IN HIS CAR AT THE MOUTH OF THAT DARK ROAD
HE WAS TERRIFIED >> FINALLY THE AFI AGENT TOLD
THE YOUNGER BROTHER OF THE TWO, WHO HAD GOTTEN LEFT BEHIND, TO
PLEASE GO BACK TO THE HOTEL ROOM AND STAY BY THE PHONE.
>> Reporter: THE REST OF THAT NIGHT AND ALL THE NEXT DAY,
JAYNE, THE AFI AGENT AND THE YOUNG MAN IN THE HOTEL ROOM IN
MEXICO CITY WATCHED THE PHONE, WILLING IT TO RING
IT DID NOT >> IT TOOK ABOUT 24 HOURS.
AND THEN I GOT AN EMAIL. IT SAID, IN A CYNICAL WAY, "WE
HAVE THE PERSON YOU SENT WITH THE MONEY.
WE'VE COUNTED THE MONEY. IT'S ALL THERE, IN UNMARKED
BILLS, AS WE HAD REQUESTED." >> Reporter: BUT NOW, SAID THE
KIDNAPPERS, NOW THEY WERE HOLDING JAYNE'S EMPLOYEE AND
WOULD KEEP HOLDING HIM SO THAT WHEN THEY RELEASED EDUARDO, HE
AND JAYNE WOULD HAVE TO COUGH UP EVEN MORE MONEY TO GET THAT MAN
BACK WELL, WAIT A MINUTE.
AT THAT POINT, NOW YOU'VE GOT NO EMPLOYEE
YOU'VE GOT NO HUSBAND. YOU'VE GOT NO MONEY.
>> BUT THAT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR THEM
THESE PEOPLE NOT ONLY WANT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE,
EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN SELL, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN GET A
LOAN FOR, EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN BORROW
THEY WANT TO WIPE YOU OUT. >> Reporter: NO ONE, NOT EVEN
THE SEASONED FEDERAL AFI AGENT, PREDICTED THE KIDNAPPERS WOULD
TAKE THE MONEY AND THE MAN WHO DELIVERED IT
THAT AGENT WAS BY NOW PRACTICALLY A MEMBER OF THE
FAMILY HE'D BEFRIENDED THE EMPLOYEES
CHOSEN TO GO TO MEXICO CITY WITH THE MONEY.
HE HAD BEEN THE COOL ONE WHO KEPT JAYNE GOING THROUGH HER
MONTHS OF CRISIS BUT NOW?
HE LEFT THE ROOM, STUNNED. >> MY STEPSON CAME INTO THE
HOUSE SHORTLY AFTER. HE FOUND OUR AFI AGENT CRYING IN
THE BACK ALLEY >> Reporter: THEY HAD FAILED
HAD THEY KILLED HIM AFTER ALL? AND IF NOT, WHERE WAS HE
THE KIDNAPPERS PROMISED EDUARDO'S RELEASE 48 HOURS AFTER
THE DROP THERE WAS NO WORD, NO CALL,
NOTHING TO SUGGEST THE KIDNAPPERS HAD OR WOULD MAKE
GOOD ON THEIR CLAIM. AND HERE AT THE RANCH, THERE WAS
A FAMILY TO CARE FOR LIFE HAD TO GO ON.
TWO DAYS AFTER THE RANSOM DROP, IN A SAD, DISTRACTED CEREMONY,
THEY LIT CANDLES ON A CAKE AND MARKED FERNANDO'S 13th BIRTHDAY.
>> THE ONLY THING I WISHED FOR WAS, YOU KNOW, IF MY DAD'S
ALIVE, PLEASE JUST BRING HIM BACK
>> Reporter: AND THEN, REST OF THE DAY, THEY TRIED TO RESUME
SOMETHING LIKE A ROUTINE ROUTINE IN LIMBO, FORCED
NORMALCY THERE WERE SMALL TEETH TO BRUSH,
BEDTIME STORIES TO READ. THE NEXT MORNING, HER HEART
HEAVY, JAYNE WILLED HERSELF OUT OF BED, GOT BREAKFAST FOR THE
KIDS >> AS I'M CLEARING THE DISHES,
SOMEONE WALKED BY. IT WAS VERY QUICK.
AND IT WAS SOMEONE WHO LOOKED VERY THIN AND FRAIL.
AND VERY, VERY OLD AND HAD A BASEBALL CAP,
FLUORESCENT YELLOW BASEBALL CAP ON, DARK CLOTHING.
>> Reporter: NOW WHAT? SHE KNEW THE KIDNAPPERS HAD BEEN
WATCHING THE HOUSE WAS THIS ONE OF THEM, HERE WITH
SOME FRESH HORROR? >>> COMING UP --
WHO WAS THAT QUIET STRANGER? FACE TO FACE WITH A GHOST.
>> HE JUST FELT SO COLD. IT WAS -- IT WAS LITERALLY AS IF
>> Reporter: IT WAS HER 16th WINTER IN MEXICO
EDUARDO HAD BEEN GONE 7 1/2 MONTHS
SHE'D SOLD WHAT SHE COULD, SENT THE MONEY, PLAYED HER HAND AND
STILL DIDN'T KNOW. HAD THEY MURDERED THE LOVE OF
HER LIFE AFTER ALL IT WAS MORNING IN THE KITCHEN.
JAYNE STARED OUT THE BACK DOOR OF THE RANCH HOUSE IN SAN
MIGUEL AND THAT'S WHEN SHE SAW IT
THERE WAS A SKELETON OUT THERE, A WALKING DEAD MAN
>> MY MOM LOOKS OUT THERE. SHE WALKS OVER TO THE WINDOW AND
LOOKS CLOSER >> Reporter: IT TOOK A MOMENT TO
REGISTER IT WAS EDUARDO
SHE OPENED THE DOOR. >> I PULLED HIM INTO ME AND PUT
MY ARMS AROUND HIM AND HE JUST FELT SO COLD
IT WAS -- IT WAS LITERALLY AS IF HE -- HE WAS ALREADY DEAD.
AND I JUST STARTED KISSING HIM ALL OVER HIS CHEEKS.
HE COULD BARELY TALK HE JUST WHISPERED.
TOLD ME, "I LOVE YOU SO MUCH." >> Reporter: IT WAS AS IF HIS
FREEDOM HAD COME AT THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT BEFORE DEATH
AND THERE BY THE DOOR, AS SHE HELD HIM IN HER ARMS, HE BEGGED
HER FOR HER SPECIAL BANANA PANCAKES
>> HE SAID, "WHEN I WAS TRYING TO DREAM ABOUT WHAT IT COULD BE
LIKE COMING BACK, IF I EVER WAS ABLE TO, I COULD ALWAYS SEE YOU
STANDING THERE AT THE STOVE. I COULD SEE IT FROM THE BACK,
MAKING MY FOOD." >> Reporter: IT WAS THE MORNING
AFTER FERNANDO MADE HIS WISH, OVER HIS BIRTHDAY CAKE, FOR THIS
VERY THING TO HAPPEN THAT'S SOME BIRTHDAY GIFT.
>> JUST GRATEFUL BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT IN MY LIFE.
I GOT MY DAD BACK. >> I JUST SPRINTED DOWN THE
HALLWAY, AND I SAW HIM IN THE KITCHEN KNEELING DOWN LIKE THIS,
WITH HIS ARMS OPEN AND I GAVE HIM A HUG
AND -- AND THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED WAS TOUCHING HIS BONES
AND -- >> Reporter: SKIN AND BONES,
YEAH >> -- AND HE WAS PALE, AND HE
LOOKED DEAD BUT CONSCIOUS. >> I REMEMBER I DIDN'T BELIEVE
THAT THAT WAS MY DAD I THOUGHT MY MOM HIRED AN ACTOR
TO PLAY DAD. >> Reporter: AS THE OLD EDUARDO
CREPT BACK INTO THAT CADAVEROUS BODY, SURROUNDED BY HIS
CHILDREN, HIS PLATES OF FOOD AND THE WOMAN WHO FOUGHT FOR HIM
EVERY MINUTE OF THOSE MONTHS, WHO CRIED FOR HIM, WHO SAVED HIS
LIFE ALWAYS JAYNE
>> HE FOLLOWED ME AROUND A LOT HE WOULDN'T LET ME OUT OF HIS
SIGHT, NOT EVEN TO USE THE RESTROOM
HE WANTED TO FOLLOW ME EVERYWHERE
>> Reporter: AND HERE HE WAS, RESTORED
>> I HADN'T SEEN MYSELF IN A MIRROR FOR 7 1/2 MONTHS.
>> Reporter: "I'M LIVING EXTRA HOURS NOW," HE TOLD US
BUT IN THOSE FIRST HOURS OF FREEDOM, HE FOUND IT HARD TO
STAND. HE COULD BARELY WALK
HE HAD LOST HALF HIS BODY WEIGHT -- WEIGHED BARELY
80 POUNDS AND COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW TRULY AWFUL HE LOOKED.
>> THE FIRST TIME THAT I SAW MYSELF AGAINST THE MIRROR, AND I
LIFTED MY T-SHIRT, I PUT IT BACK ON IMMEDIATELY
I COULDN'T BELIEVE I LOOKED LIKE PURE BONES AND SKIN.
I JUST -- IT WAS TOO MUCH. >> Reporter: OF COURSE, GIVEN
WHAT HE HAD BEEN THROUGH, HE PROBABLY SHOULDN'T HAVE SURVIVED
AT ALL THE DOCTOR WHO FINALLY EXAMINED
HIM NOTED LATE STAGE SEVERE STARVATION, LIVER DAMAGE,
CONCUSSION, THREE BROKEN RIBS AND SEVERE STOMACH INFECTIONS.
HE HOBBLED AROUND, BENT AND BRITTLE, HAD TO BE SUPPORTED UP
OR DOWN THE STAIRS >> IT'S LIKE THEY SUCKED THE
LIFE OUT OF ME THEY JUST TOOK EVERYTHING AWAY
FROM ME. >> Reporter: DEAD, IN A WAY.
ALIVE, BUT DEAD. >> EXACTLY
EXACTLY. >> Reporter: AND YET, WITHIN
THOSE FIRST HOURS AND DAYS OF FREEDOM --
>> HE WAS ALREADY LAUGHING AND -- AND -- IT -- IT WAS AS
IF, DRIP BY DRIP, LIFE WAS COMING BACK INTO THIS SKELETON
>> Reporter: KIND OF LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR
LIFE, IS IT? >> COMPLETELY.
>> Reporter: AND THEN SHE'D SEE A CLOUD ON HIS FACE OR SENSE THE
TORMENT IN HIS DREAMS AT NIGHT HE WOULD SUDDENLY BE HAUNTED
AGAIN. >> I HAVE THESE FLASHBACKS OF --
I'M NOT SURE IF I'M DREAMING AND IS THIS TRUE THAT I'M OUT?
OR IS JUST A REFLECTION OF MY THOUGHTS
>> I WOULD WAKE UP EARLY EVERY MORNING AND GO CHECK IF -- THAT
THAT WASN'T A DREAM. I'D WAKE UP --
>> Reporter: STILL THERE >> YEAH.
I WOULD RUN UP TO HIS ROOM AND -- AND KNOCK AND SEE HIM GET
UP "OKAY, HE'S -- HE'S BACK."
>> Reporter: BUT THEY ALL KNEW THEIR LIVING NIGHTMARE WASN'T
OVER THE KIDNAPPERS STILL HELD THEIR
EMPLOYEE, WERE STILL THREATENING THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH DEATH.
AND EDUARDO NEEDED TO TELL JAYNE, AS HE IS ABOUT TO TELL
US, ABOUT HIS ASTONISHING ORDEAL
>>> COMING UP -- >> Reporter: THIS IS
UNBELIEVABLE HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR SANITY?
>> MORE THAN SEVEN MONTHS IN HELL
EXACTLY WHAT HAD HE ENDURED? >> I THOUGHT, "THIS IS IT.
HE'S GONNA SHOOT ME. AND THEN I START HEARING
THESE -- SOUNDS AND -- I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO.
>> Reporter: EDUARDO VALSECA IS A CHARMING AND OUTGOING MAN WITH
A READY LAUGH, AN INFECTIOUS ZEST FOR LIFE.
HOW, WE WONDERED, GIVEN WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR, IS THAT
STILL POSSIBLE HE CALLS IT THE BOX.
SO THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME SIZE
>> EXACTLY >> Reporter: WE BUILT A REPLICA,
A PRECISE COPY OF THE MISERABLE CONTAINER IN WHICH EDUARDO WAS
HELD FOR 7 1/2 MONTHS. HERE'S WHERE THE AIR GOES IN
HERE'S WHERE IT'S PUMPED OUT GEEZ
I -- YOU KNOW, I -- I -- I WOULDN'T FIT IN THIS DAMN
THING. >> NO, NO, NO, NO.
>> Reporter: JUST LIKE THE ORIGINAL, THE INSIDE SURFACES
ARE COVERED IN DARK, ABRASIVE RUG.
A SINGLE BULB IN THE CEILING AN ELECTRONIC EYE, WATCHING.
THE BOX IS ONLY SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN OUR OWN SHOULDERS
BARELY LONG ENOUGH TO LIE DOWN IN
BUT THIS -- THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE
HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR SANITY? >> WHEN I FIRST ARRIVE HERE, AND
I REPEAT MYSELF OVER AND OVER AND OVER, "CALM YOUR MIND DOWN."
>> Reporter: WHEN HE FIRST CAME HERE
THAT WAS THE VIOLENT AMBUSH IN THE JEEP, OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL
THEN THE BLOODY, SEMICONSCIOUS, HOODED RIDE THAT FOLLOWED, A
BLIND HUSTLE INTO A BUILDING, UP A STAIRWELL, ON SOMEONE'S
SHOULDER, THE STRIPPING OF ALL HIS CLOTHES, THE SUDDEN
CONFINEMENT IN A BOX >> AND -- AND SINCE THE FIRST
MINUTE, THAT'S THE ONLY THING I EVER SAW, JUST THAT BOX.
>> Reporter: THEN THE VICIOUS DAILY BEATINGS
AND THE RULES. RULE ONE, NO TALKING -- EVER
COMMUNICATION WAS BY HANDWRITTEN NOTE
THE KIDNAPPERS WOULD SIGNAL WHEN THEY WANTED TO ENTER THE BOX
>> ALWAYS TWICE. ALWAYS LIKE THAT
[ TWO KNOCKS ] >> Reporter: AND THAT WAS YOUR
SIGNAL TO DO WHAT? >> TO PUT A -- A PILLOWCASE OVER
MY HEAD AND IMMEDIATELY GO LIKE I AM RIGHT NOW, PUT MY HEAD
AGAINST THE WALL ALWAYS
>> Reporter: SO YOU SEE -- YOU'D NEVER SEE THEIR FACES.
>> NEVER EVER, EVER. >> Reporter: THEY WATCHED HIM ON
THE WEBCAM, KEPT HIM NAKED, FED HIM AN OCCASIONAL PIECE OF FRUIT
OR A SALAD A SMALL BUCKET SERVED AS HIS
TOILET IT WAS RARELY EMPTIED.
HIS KIDNAPPERS KEPT THE LIGHT BURNING, DAY AND NIGHT, BLASTED
THE INSIDE OF THE BOX WITH HIGH VOLUME MUSIC
* >> I SAY, "PLEASE, JUST TURN OFF
THE MUSIC JUST ONCE, PLEASE. THEY SAY, "IF WE TURN OFF THE
MUSIC AND YOU'RE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT WE TALK ABOUT, THEN WE HAVE
TO KILL YOU. >> Reporter: HOW LOUD WAS THIS
MUSIC? >> VERY LOUD
TO THE POINT THAT I LOST 50% OF MY HEARING ON THE RIGHT SIDE
>> Reporter: THE BEATINGS, SAID EDUARDO, INTENSIFIED EACH TIME
HE WAS ORDERED TO WRITE JAYNE A NEW LETTER BEGGING HER TO PAY.
>> HE BROKE MY BONES AND ALL THAT, JUST KICKING ME.
I COULDN'T FEEL A SHAPE OF MY HEAD ANYMORE
IT WAS FULL OF BUMPS >> Reporter: HE SECRETLY MARKED
OFF THE PASSING DAYS ON SAVED SCRAPS OF PAPER.
SLOWLY, HE STARVED IF THEY GAVE HIM A BIT OF
CHICKEN, HE'D EAT THE BONE AS WELL
AN EGG, THE SHELL. AND THE TORTURES INTENSIFIED
AND THE KIDNAPPERS SENT HIM NOTES TELLING HIM JAYNE DIDN'T
CARE ABOUT HIM, HAD MOVED ANOTHER MAN INTO THE RANCH TO
LIVE WITH HER. AND IN THE ENDLESS HOURS OF
COFFIN-LIKE SOLITUDE, DOUBTS ATE AT HIS MIND.
>> I START FEELING MIXED FEELINGS
I THOUGHT MAYBE SHE'S FEELING THAT THEY GONNA KILL ME ANYWAY,
AND THEY GONNA TAKE THE LITTLE BIT OF MONEY THAT -- THAT --
THAT WE HAVE >> Reporter: THEY FORCED HIM TO
WRITE THOSE ACCUSING LETTERS TO JAYNE, HE SAID
AND WHEN SHE DIDN'T PAY, THEY GAVE HIM A NOTE ANNOUNCING THEY
WOULD SHOOT HIM. >> THEY CAME IN.
THEY COVER MY FACE THEY HANDCUFF ME
THEY -- THEY PUT ME FACE DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
THEY PUT THE GUN RIGHT ON MY LEG, AND THEY SHOT ME RIGHT
THERE. AND THE PAIN IS TREMENDOUS
IT'S LIKE A BOMB COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF YOUR BODY, OUT
>> Reporter: THEN, TWO WEEKS LATER, AGAIN THE ANNOUNCEMENT IN
ADVANCE -- "YOU WILL BE SHOT.
>> AND -- AND NOW HE SHOT ME IN THE LEFT ARM AND RIGHT HERE.
AND AGAIN, HE DIDN'T WANNA SHOOT THE -- THE BONE.
SO HE WENT -- HE WENT FROM HERE, AND IT CAME OUT ON THE OTHER
SIDE I WAS NOT AFRAID OF DYING
BECAUSE I COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.
IF I HAD HAD A PIECE OF GLASS OR IF I HAD HAD ANYTHING, I WOULD
HAVE KILLED MYSELF >> Reporter: AND SO HE THOUGHT
OF HOME, OF HIS WIFE'S BANANA PANCAKES
HE IMAGINED THE FACES OF HIS CHILDREN
>> I WOULD HEAR FERNANDO SAYING, "DAD, I MISS YOU."
AND I WOULD SEE EMILIANO SO CONFUSED
I WOULD MISS NAYA'S BEAUTIFUL GREEN EYES
>> Reporter: HE WAS IN HIS BOX FOR A TOTAL OF 225 DAYS.
AND THEN, ONE MORNING -- >> HE PUT ME AGAINST THIS WALL
WITH THE HANDCUFFS AND -- AND I THOUGHT, "THIS IS
IT HE'S GONNA SHOOT ME.
[ SIGH ] I WAS SCARED
AND THEN I START HEARING THESE SOUNDS
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS GONNA DO
>> Reporter: BUT THEY DIDN'T SHOOT HIM.
INSTEAD, THEY SHAVED HIM AND DRESSED HIM AND TOOK THE PROOF
OF LIFE PHOTO JAYNE WAS ABOUT TO FIND IN HER EMAIL.
AND THEN THEY TIED THE HOOD BACK ON HIS HEAD AND PUT HIM IN A CAR
AND BROUGHT HIM HERE THEY ORDERED, "FACE THE WALL."
IT WAS A CEMETERY WALL TO DIE
A VOICE BEHIND HIM SAID, "START COUNTING."
>> SO I START COUNTING FROM 1 TO 200 RIGHT HERE AND -
>> Reporter: DID YOU GET ALL THE WAY TO 200
>> YES ABSOLUTELY
OH, I WAS SO SCARE -- YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T WANNA SCREWED IT UP
>> Reporter: AND THEN HE TURNED AROUND, AND THEY WERE GONE
YOU HAD BEEN IN THAT BOX ALL THAT TIME, AND HERE YOU ARE
STANDING ALL ALONE, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, UNDER THE
SKY. WHAT WAS THAT LIKE
>> THE FIRST TIME IN 7 1/2 MONTHS THAT I COULD FEEL
THE WIND AND I COULD MOVE MY LEGS AND
JUST MOVE AWAY FROM THE WALL AND -- AND -
AND IT FELT REALLY LIKE WALKING IN A DIFFERENT PLANET.
>> Reporter: HIS LEGS WERE SO WEAK HE STUMBLED AND FELL AS HE
HOBBLED TO A NEARBY ROAD HE FELT IN HIS POCKET.
A FEW PESOS IN THERE HE HAD NO IDEA WHERE HE WAS.
>> THERE WAS AN OLD MAN ALREADY SITTING THERE, WAITING FOR THE
BUS FROM MEXICO CITY I TOLD HIM WHERE I WAS GOING -
RANCHO LOS CHARCOS AND HE TOLD ME, "THIS IS THE
RIGHT BUS. >> Reporter: WHICH IS HOW, EARLY
THAT MORNING, EDUARDO VALSECA ARRIVED AT HIS OWN BACK DOOR AND
ASKED HIS WIFE TO MAKE BANANA PANCAKES
UNMITIGATED JOY. AND TERROR
TERROR OH, YES.
IT WASN'T OVER >> I COULDN'T EVEN RELISH IN THE
MOMENT HAVING MY HUSBAND BACK BECAUSE WE WERE STILL DEALING
WITH THESE PEOPLE. >> Reporter: NOW, REMEMBER, THE
KIDNAPPERS WERE HOLDING JAYNE AND EDUARDO'S EMPLOYEE, THE MAN
WHO'D VOLUNTEERED TO DELIVER THE RANSOM AND, FOR HIS TROUBLE, WAS
SNATCHED AT THE DROP SITE. SO NOW A NEW ROUND OF EMAILED
DEMANDS BEGAN ARRIVING >> WE -- WE STARTED NEGOTIATING.
IT WAS LIKE THE WHOLE THING ALL OVER AGAIN
>> Reporter: BUT THIS TIME, THE KIDNAPPERS PROMISED TO KILL NOT
JUST THE EMPLOYEE, BUT THE WHOLE FAMILY
ALL OF THEM. >> SO YOU'RE STILL TERRIFIED,
YOU KNOW >> I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT
WASN'T OVER. >> Reporter: THE FEDERAL POLICE
ASKED THEM TO GO TO MEXICO CITY TO BE DEBRIEFED BY SENIOR
OFFICIALS. BUT THEY WEREN'T PREPARED -- HOW
COULD THEY BE -- FOR WHAT THEY'D HEAR THERE
>>> COMING UP -- THE ENTIRE FAMILY, SUDDENLY IN
DANGER AGAIN >> I LOST MY BEST FRIENDS.
I LOST MY HOME >> EVERYTHING CHANGED.
EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU COULD IMAGINE.
>> AND THE CRUELEST SETBACK OF ALL.
>> THAT WAS THE WORST THING IN MY LIFE, MORE THAN THE
KIDNAPPING, THOUGH THAT WAS >> Reporter: OFFICIALS OF THE
FEDERAL POLICE LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY WHILE JAYNE AND
EDUARDO TOLD THEIR TERRIFYING STORY.
BUT WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAID IN RESPONSE WAS SHOCKING.
AND FINAL. "YOU MUST LEAVE THE COUNTRY
NOW," THEY WERE TOLD, "FOR YOUR SAFETY."
THEIR GUARD HUSTLED THEM BACK TO THE RANCH, ALLOWED 48 HOURS TO
PREPARE. AND THEN, IN A MOMENT, IT WAS
OVER THEY GATHERED WHAT THEY COULD
CARRY, LEFT BEHIND CLOTHES AND DOLLS AND DONKEYS AND DOGS,
BUNNY RABBITS. AND THEY LEFT.
LEFT FOREVER THE KIDNAPPERS HAD LEFT EDUARDO
ALIVE IF BARELY, BUT PARADISE? PARADISE WAS LOST.
>> I LOST MY BEST FRIENDS. I LOST MY HOME
I LOST EVERYTHING THAT I KNEW ABOUT LIFE
JUST LIKE THAT, GONE >> Reporter: THEY CAME TO
AMERICA, TO JAYNE'S MOTHER'S PLACE, TO START ALL OVER AGAIN
>> I WANTED CHANGE AFTER THAT HAPPENED
I WANTED A NEW ENVIRONMENT, AND I WANTED CHANGE.
>> WE NEEDED A RESET BUTTON AFTER -- AFTER EVERYTHING.
>> EVERYTHING CHANGED FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER
EVERYTHING EVERY SINGLE THING THAT YOU
COULD IMAGINE. IT'S LITERALLY TWO DIFFERENT
LIVES. >> Reporter: THAT KIDNAPPED
EMPLOYEE, BY THE WAY THE KIDNAPPERS SIMPLY RELEASED
HIM NEARLY THREE MONTHS LATER, NO RANSOM AT ALL
THE FEDERAL POLICE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THAT THE KIDNAPPING WAS
THE WORK OF A MARXIST REVOLUTION PARTY CALLED THE EPR
BUT THERE WERE NO ARRESTS. THERE WERE NO ANSWERS.
AND GRADUALLY, THE MEMORY OF THEIR TERROR WAS MIXED WITH
NOSTALGIA FOR THE LIFE THEY'D LEFT BEHIND.
WHICH IS, IN PART, WHY A YEAR AND A HALF AFTER EDUARDO'S
RELEASE, HE AND JAYNE DECIDED TO RETURN WITH US TO THEIR BELOVED
RANCH. BUT IT HAD TO BE SECRET, EDUARDO
TOLD US. NO ONE COULD KNOW THEY WERE
COMING >> BECAUSE YOU -- YOU NEVER KNOW
WHO IS INFORMING THESE -- THESE PEOPLE
>> Reporter: OF COURSE >> THEY KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT
THE KIDS THEY KNEW EVERYTHING ABOUT US.
ANYBODY COULD BE THERE TELLING THEM, YOU KNOW, "HERE, THEY'RE
BACK." >> Reporter: BODYGUARDS WOULD
COME ALONG TOO, A STRANGE ACCESSORY NOW GIVEN WHAT A FREE
AND HAPPY PLACE THE RANCH USED TO BE.
THAT FIRST NIGHT, THOUGH, IN YOUR OLD BED IN THE HOUSE.
WAS THAT A LITTLE WEIRD GETTING BACK INTO THAT
>> OH, IT WAS GREAT. I MEAN, REALLY
>> AND I SLEPT WELL KNOWING THAT WE HAD BODYGUARDS.
>> Reporter: IT WAS JUST AS THEY LEFT IT.
THEIR CLOTHES STILL FILLED THE CLOSETS.
FAMILY PORTRAITS DECORATED THEIR ROOMS.
EVEN THE DOGS GREETED THEM AS IF THEIR FORCED DEPARTURE HAD BEEN
YESTERDAY. THERE WAS A HAPPY REUNION AT THE
SCHOOL JAYNE HELPED FOUND. THEY LED HER AROUND THE CAMPUS
TO SHOW OFF THE PROGRESS THEY'D MADE IN HER ABSENCE.
>> WOW, IT LOOKS AMAZING >> Reporter: HOW PAINFUL THAT
ABSENCE HAD BEEN THEIR TRIP BACK TO THE RANCH
COINCIDED WITH EDUARDO'S 61st BIRTHDAY
SO JAYNE HASTILY ORGANIZED A FIESTA WITH ONLY CLOSE AND
TRUSTED FRIENDS. AND THEY, IN A MAGIC EVENING,
WERE TRANSPORTED BACK INTO THE WORLD THEY LEFT BEHIND
A WORLD THEY LOVED *
>> IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL FOR JAYNE AND I.
WAS JUST, LIKE, 100% THERAPY TO GO BACK TO THE PLACE AND BE --
AND FEEL HAPPY ABOUT IT AND FEEL SAFE ABOUT IT.
IT WAS FANTASTIC >> Reporter: THE UNEASE, IF
THAT'S WHAT IT WAS, THAT ACCOMPANIED JAYNE AND EDUARDO
BACK TO THEIR RANCH IN SAN MIGUEL HAD VANISHED.
THIS WAS HOME, AND IT WAS TUGGING HARD
COME BACK. AND THEN -
WHAT JUST HAPPENED JUST -- JUST NOW, WHAT HAPPENED?
>> OKAY, WELL, EDUARDO CAME THROUGH THE DOOR WITH THE LAWYER
AND TOLD ME THAT NOW THE ENTIRE TRAIN HAS BEEN DESTROYED ON THE
INSIDE IT'S BEEN RANSACKED.
>> Reporter: IT WAS THE PULLMAN CAR, EDUARDO'S INHERITANCE FROM
HIS FAMOUS FATHER, THE TRAIN IN WHICH HE WOOED JAYNE AS THEY
FELL IN LOVE HE'D BROUGHT IT TO THE RANCH, A
SORT OF MAGIC SHRINE TO THEIR LOVE AND HIS PAST.
SOMEONE, WHILE THEY WERE RIGHT HERE AT THE RANCH, HAD BROKEN
IN, SMASHED IT UP. THEY WERE BEING WATCHED.
IT FELT LIKE A WARNING AND THE POLICE
>> WE CALLED THEM. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T COME
BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE GASOLINE
IMAGINE THE ANSWER FOR A POLICE FORCE TO SAY THAT THEY CANNOT GO
TO THE RANCH BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH GASOLINE.
>> Reporter: AND QUITE SUDDENLY, THEY KNEW.
IT WAS OVER. >> I'M JUST FEELING LIKE THAT
I'M SO OVERWHELMED WITH THE SITUATION THAT WE'RE LIVING IN
IN MEXICO TODAY THAT I JUST CAN'T STAND IT
I JUST CANNOT BEAR IT ANYMORE. I WANNA GET FAR AWAY FROM HERE
>> Reporter: SO EDUARDO SAID GOOD-BYE TO HIS NATIVE LAND.
JAYNE WAS HIS COUNTRY NOW. THE WOMAN HE SAW AT THE PHONE
BOOTH ALL THOSE YEARS AGO. WHOM HE WOOED ON HIS TRAIN CAR
WHO MADE A FAMILY AND SAVED HIS LIFE
WHO, AS HE SAT CRUMPLED IN HIS BOX, KEPT HIM ALIVE.
AND IN LOVE. >> I ALWAYS KNEW LOVE IS
IMPORTANT, BUT NEVER AS IMPORTANT AS I KNOW NOW.
SO YOU LEARN -- IT CHANGES YOUR LIFE FOREVER, FOR SURE
>> Reporter: BUT IT DOES NOT MAKE LIFE FAIR
WE HAVE TO TELL YOU, THOUGH IT IS DIFFICULT TO DO SO, THAT
JAYNE VALSECA'S BREAST CANCER RETURNED FULL FORCE.
AND FOUR YEARS AFTER SHE FOUGHT FOR AND WON EDUARDO'S FREEDOM,
SHE DIED THAT HAD TO BE A DARK TIME FOR
YOU. TERRIBLE TIME.
>> THAT WAS HORRIBLE THAT WAS THE WORST THING IN MY
LIFE MORE THAN THE KIDNAPPING, THOUGH
THAT WAS TERRIBLE. >> IT WAS DEFINITELY THE MOST
DIFFICULT TIME OF MY LIFE, LOSIN' THAT WOMAN.
YEAH >> SHE WAS A HERO.
SHE WAS -- SHE WAS A BAD ASS YEAH, SHE WAS AMAZING.
I LOOK AT HER AS, LIKE, THE PERSON I WANNA BECOME ONE DAY.
>> I'M VERY LUCKY TO HAVE HAD A -- A WOMAN LIKE THAT AS A
MOTHER VERY LUCKY
>> Reporter: NOW HER PRESENCE HOVERS OVER EVERYTHING
BUT THEY ARE REALISTS. SHE IS GONE, NOTHING THEY CAN
DO SO DID IT MATTER ANYMORE,
FINDING OUT WHO KIDNAPPED AND TORTURED EDUARDO ALL THOSE
225 DAYS OR CATCHING WHOEVER IT WAS?
>> I PUT THAT AWAY I -- I WASN'T EVEN THINKING OF
IT I -- OF COURSE I WANTED JUSTICE,
BUT I DIDN'T - >> Reporter: BUT YOU ACCEPT THAT
YOU'LL PROBABLY NEVER GET IT >> YEAH, YEAH, EXACTLY
>> I WAS PISSED OFF, AND I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF -- OF
SUFFERING OUT THERE THAT I WAS HAPPY TO BE BACK HERE, AND ALL I
WANTED TO DO IS NOT THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
>> Reporter: DID YOU, AT SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY, THINK, "I'M
NEVER GONNA FIND OUT WHO DID THIS TO ME, WHO DID THIS TO US,
AND I'LL JUST GIVE UP" >> AFTER -- AFTER THE -- TIME
WENT BY, AND I KNOW THESE GUYS, THE POLICE AND THE GOVERNMENT
AND ALL OF THAT. THEY WILL NEVER CALL ME BACK,
AND THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT IT. I TOTALLY LOST HOPE.
>> Reporter: AND THEN, OUT OF THE BLUE TOTAL FLUKE, SOMETHING
AMAZING HAPPENED ALL BECAUSE OF ONE NERVOUS CAB
DRIVER AND A SEVERED FINGER. AND A HARROWING TALE
>>> COMING UP -- >> HE SAYS THEY GRABBED A VERY
DANGEROUS KIDNAPPER, "THAT WE REALLY, SERIOUSLY THINK IS THE
SAME GUY THAT GRABBED YOU. >> AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, AN
ARREST AND COULD IT BE?
WAS THIS HIS PRISON? >> WOW, IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE
THIS IS THE PLACE. >> Reporter: THE NEWS FROM SAN
MIGUEL DE ALLENDE HAD BEEN DRAMATIC, REMARKABLE
HERE IT WAS FROM THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, A MONTHS' LONG
KIDNAPPING SOLVED, WITH AN ARREST
>> THE KIDNAPPERS DEMANDED LARGE RANSOMS THAT MUST BE PAID IN
U.S. DOLLARS >> Reporter: BUT WAS THIS THE
REVOLUTIONARY GROUP EDUARDO HAD BEEN TOLD ABOUT AGAIN AND AGAIN?
NO THIS WAS A CHILEAN NATIONAL, A
RESIDENT OF SAN MIGUEL, AND HIS KIDNAPPING BUSINESS APPEARED TO
BE FREELANCE FOR THE MONEY.
THE KIDNAPPER HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH ABDUCTING THIS RESIDENT OF
SAN MIGUEL HER ORDEAL
EDUARDO, NOW LIVING IN A WASHINGTON, D.C., SUBURB, HEARD
OF THE ARREST FROM A MEXICAN NEWSPAPER REPORTER
>> HELLO, EDUARDO. >> AND HE SAYS, "I WORK FOR
REFORMA AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AWARE, THEY GRABBED, IN SAN
MIGUEL, A VERY DANGEROUS KIDNAPPER THAT WE REALLY,
SERIOUSLY THINK THAT IS THE SAME GUY THAT GRABBED YOU."
>> Reporter: WAIT -- HIS KIDNAPPER?
NOW EDUARDO HAD TO KNOW. AND SO DID WE.
WAS IT TRUE? SO NOVEMBER, 2019, MORE THAN A
DECADE SINCE HE'D BEEN TAKEN WE TOOK HIM WITH US TO SAN
MIGUEL TO FIND AN ANSWER THAT SUDDENLY MATTERED A GREAT DEAL
INDEED REPORTERS VERONICA ESPINOZA AND
ANA LUZ SOLIS REPORT EXTENSIVELY ON THE KIDNAPPINGS IN SAN
MIGUEL HOW MANY KIDNAPPINGS WERE THERE
IN SAN MIGUEL IN THE LAST TEN YEARS?
>> Translator: TEN KIDNAPPINGS THAT I KNOW OF
>> Reporter: AND IN EVERY CASE, NAKED IN A BOX, THE STARVATION,
THE EXTORTION METHODS -- ALL WERE THE SAME.
AND, BIT BY BIT, THIS PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS COLONIAL TOWN
BECAME FEARFUL >> Translator: THE PEOPLE NO
LONGER HAVE THE SAME TRUST THEY ONCE HAD IN THIS PARADISE.
>> Reporter: BUT NOW, BY ALL APPEARANCES, THEY GOT HIM.
THE PERSON BEHIND IT ALL >> Translator: THERE WERE A
SERIES OF STATEMENTS MADE BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND FROM THE
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, THAT SAID THAT HE WAS IN FACT
THE LEADER OF ALL OF THESE KIDNAPPINGS, INCLUDING
EDUARDO'S. >> Reporter: AND AFTER HE WAS
CAUGHT THE KIDNAPPINGS STOPPED.
ANA LUZ TOOK US TO THE PLACE THE KIDNAPPER WAS APPREHENDED.
TOLD THE STORY OF THE CABBIE WHO WAS PAID TEN TIMES THE FARE TO
DELIVER A PACKAGE THAT FELT DISTURBING
>> AND WHEN HE FELT THE PACKAGE, IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING REALLY
STRANGE IN THERE >> Reporter: INSIDE WAS THE
FINGER OF THE KIDNAPPED WOMAN AND A RANSOM LETTER.
BUT THE CABBIE COULD SEE THE MAN WHO GAVE HIM THE PACKAGE AND THE
MONEY WAS TAILING HIM. THE TAXI CAME ALONG AND PAR --
JUST STOPPED UP HERE OR SOMETHING?
>> RIGHT WHERE YOU SEE THAT CAR COMING
>> Reporter: YEAH. >> THAT'S WHERE HE CAME.
>> Reporter: THE CABBIE WAS TERRIFIED.
HURRY, HE BEGGED THE POLICE. >> THE POLICE TOLD HIM, JUST
PULL UP LIKE YOU ARE PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR
>> Reporter: SURE. >> AND THAT'S WHEN THEY CAME IN.
>> Reporter: THE COPS ARRESTED THE MAN BUT HAD NO IDEA YET WHO
HE WAS AND WHILE THEY FIGURED IT OUT,
THE MAN MADE A PHONE CALL. TO THIS MODERN SUBURBAN
APARTMENT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAN MIGUEL
>> NANCY WAS KEPT THREE MONTHS IN THIS HOUSE.
>> Reporter: RIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL, I MEAN VERY
SUBURBAN LOOKING PLACE, RIGHT? WHERE, FOR MONTHS, THE KIDNAPPER
AND HIS CONFEDERATES HAD BEEN HOLDING THAT FRENCH-AMERICAN
WOMAN. NAKED, STARVING, A WOODEN BOX
FOR A CELL THE DETAILS SO SIMILAR TO
EDUARDO'S CASE >> SO THEY HAD THE WOOD AROUND
AND THEY HAD SORT OF, LIKE, PLASTIC THAT KILLS THE SOUND
SORT OF, LIKE, IN A -- HOW DO YOU CALL THAT -- LIKE, A -- A --
>> Reporter: SOUNDPROOFING MATERIAL
SO - >> SOUNDPROOF -- SOUNDPROOFING
MATERIAL - >> Reporter: -- SO SHE COULD
SCREAM AND NOT BE HEARD. >> RIGHT
THAT'S RIGHT >> Reporter: AND THE KIDNAPPER'S
PHONE CALL FROM THE GAS STATION WAS TO HIS CONFEDERATE IN THERE.
>> SO HE SAID -- THE -- THE CRIMINAL SAID, "TELL CARLOS TO
CLEAN THE BOX. SO ONE HOUR LATER AFTER THAT
CALL, NANCY WAS TOTALLY WALKING BY HERSELF
>> Reporter: THEY JUST LET HER GO
>> THEY JUST LET HER GO. >> Reporter: THEN ANA LUZ TOOK
US FARTHER OUT, BEYOND THE SUBURBS, TO THIS BRIGHTLY
COLORED COUNTRY HOUSE, SURROUNDED BY ACRES AND ACRES OF
PRIVACY. HERE, SHE SAID, WAS WHERE THE
KIDNAPPER LIVED A SOLIDLY MIDDLE CLASS LIFE
>> AND IF I CLOSE MY EYES, WHEN WE WERE COMING ON -- ON -- ON --
ON THE CAR RIGHT NOW, ON THE WAY HERE, IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT
I FELT >> Reporter: THE SORT OF -
COBBLESTONE ROAD >> THE COBBLESTONES AND ALL
THAT >> Reporter: AS WE APPROACHED,
EDUARDO WAS TENSE. WAS THIS WHERE HE WAS HELD ALL
THOSE 7 1/2 MONTHS A DECADE AGO? >> SHE'S CERTAIN, THEN, WHEN -
WHEN THE TIME I WAS CAPTURED, HE OWNED THIS HOUSE
AND NOBODY ELSE WAS LIVING HERE. SO THAT -- THAT'S A GREAT
POSSIBILITY HERE I CAN RECOGNIZE -- WOW
IT REALLY, REALLY LOOKS LIKE THIS IS THE PLACE, MY FRIEND
>> Reporter: WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW. >> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> Reporter: WELL, WELL. ALL RIGHT.
>> THIS IS INCREDIBLE. >> Reporter: THE PROPERTY IS
DERELICT, HAS BEEN LONG ABANDONED.
EDUARDO SCOURED THE FLOORPLAN BASED ON SOUNDS HE HEARD IN
CAPTIVITY. WHAT'S IT LIKE TO BE IN HERE,
KNOWING THAT IT COULD BE THE PLACE?
>> IT WILL FEEL LIKE -- LIKE FINDING A TREASURE
BECAUSE JUST KNOWING THAT THESE GUYS KEPT ME HERE AND ALL THAT,
OPENS ANOTHER LEVEL IN MY MIND THAT THIS IS THE PLACE
BUT YOU KNOW, I'M NOT 100% SURE. AND I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHY
BECAUSE AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THEY CHANGED ME TO ANOTHER BOX.
AND WHAT I REMEMBER VERY CLEARLY IS THAT WE WALK IN THE SAME
SECOND FLOOR FOR A WHILE >> Reporter: SO THIS IS PRETTY
SMALL. >> THIS IS VERY SMALL.
>> Reporter: AND THEN WE SAW IT. LYING IN THE DUST OF THIS
ABANDONED PLACE. OH, WHAT'S THAT?
>> A PICTURE OF HIM. LOOK AT -- LOOK AT THIS.
IT'S A PICTURE OF HIM AND -- AND -- AND -- AND HIS WIFE
>> Reporter: THIS IS PICTURES OF THE -- OF THE KIDNAPPER.
>> WE FOUND ON THE FLOOR AND -- AND -- AND THE -- THE
ELECTRIC BILL WITH HIS NAME ON AND THAT'S HIM AND HIS WIFE --
KISSING -- KISSING HER >> Reporter: THE WORDS THAT GO
WITH THESE GRAINY PICTURES, THE NAME, THE IDENTITY, THE
PERSON -- WERE LIKE A KNIFE IN THE HEART.
A BETRAYAL LIKE NO OTHER >>> COMING UP --
>> I DON'T EVEN WANT TO LOOK AT THEIR FACES.
>> I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
>> A HEART-STOPPING REALIZATION. THE MAN WHO KIDNAPPED EDUARDO
WAS VERY CLOSE TO HOME >> Reporter: THERE ARE SOME
SHOCKS, SOME BETRAYALS ALMOST BEYOND DESCRIBING, THAT CAN SUCK
OUT FAITH IN HUMANITY. IN TRUST
>> LOOK AT HIM LOOK AT HIM!
>> Reporter: LIKE THIS PHOTO OF WHAT LOOKS LIKE A LOVING
HUSBAND. HIS NAME IS RAUL ESCOBAR
AND HE IS A KIDNAPPER. >> THAT -- THAT WAS REALLY
INCREDIBLE >> Reporter: THE MAN WHO
TORTURED, STARVED, SHOT, CUT OFF HIS VICTIM'S FINGER WAS, SAID
MANY WHO KNEW HIM, CHARMING, A GOOD FRIEND, A WILLING HELPER,
THE LIFE OF ANY PARTY. HE GOT MARRIED IN THE BEACH
HOUSE OF HIS LAST VICTIM >> I -- I WAS IN -- IN SHOCK
>> Reporter: AND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN ESCOBAR AND EDUARDO --
MAYBE EVEN MORE PAINFUL. THREE YEARS BEFORE EDUARDO'S
KIDNAPPING, ESCOBAR ENROLLED HIS SON IN THE WALDORF SCHOOL,
EVENTUALLY BECAME A SCHOOL TRUSTEE.
IT WAS THE VERY SCHOOL JAYNE VALSECA BUILT ON THEIR RANCH
AND THERE HE HAD ACCESS TO PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT
EDUARDO'S FAMILY AND A PERFECT VANTAGE POINT TO WATCH JAYNE AS
SHE NEGOTIATED TO WIN HER HUSBAND'S FREEDOM, BUT IT GOT
EVEN WORSE >> NOT -- NOT ONLY FOR THAT, BUT
HE WAS MARRIED TO A WOMAN FROM CHILE.
AND SHE HAD A SON, AND THE SON WAS DATING MY GRANDDAUGHTER.
>> Reporter: HERE THEY ARE YEARS AFTER EDUARDO'S RELEASE,
THIS IS THE KIDNAPPER'S STEPSON WITH EDUARDO'S GRANDDAUGHTER
>> SHE REALLY LOVED THE WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY.
SO TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE GUY THAT DESTROY OUR FAMILY, AND
THEN WE HAVE TO LEAVE OUR COUNTRY AND ALL THAT BECAUSE -
THAT'S -- THAT'S TOO MUCH TO DIGEST
>> Reporter: DO YOU SEE HIS SERVICE ON THE PTA AND
INVOLVEMENT IN THE SCHOOL AS BEING A COVER FOR HIS CRIMINAL
ACTIVITY >> OH, WITHOUT A DOUBT
THE ANSWER OF THAT IS VERY SIMPLE
HE LOOKED LIKE A WONDERFUL FATHER, A WONDERFUL HUSBAND AND
CARING AND ALL THAT. >> Reporter: ESCOBAR IS SERVING
A 60-YEAR SENTENCE FOR HIS LAST KIDNAPING -- THE WOMAN WHOSE
FINGER HE SEVERED. HE HAS SINCE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO
A JAIL IN CHILE AND WILL POTENTIALLY SERVE MORE TIME FOR
OTHER CRIMES AND ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES,
THE EVIDENCE LINKS HIM TO MANY, IF NOT ALL, OF THE SAN MIGUEL
KIDNAPPINGS, INCLUDING EDUARDO'S.
SEVERAL OF THOSE WHO WERE ALSO TOUCHED BY THE TRAUMA AT ONE
POINT AGREED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO US, TELL THE
STORY. SOME OF THEM HELD EVEN LONGER
THAN EDUARDO BUT WHEN THEY CAME TIME?
NO THEY DID NOT WANT TO APPEAR ON
CAMERA THEY WERE AFRAID
THE REASON THE KIDNAPPERS' KNOWN
ACCOMPLICES FLED THE COUNTRY AFTER HIS ARREST
BUT MAYBE THERE WERE MORE. NO ONE KNOWS FOR SURE.
SOME SAY THEY'VE MOVED ON TO ANOTHER PART OF MEXICO
AND ESCOBAR? HIS SENTENCE IS VERY LONG,
BUT -- DO YOU HAVE ANY HOPE AT ALL THAT
THE AUTHORITIES WILL TRY TO INVESTIGATE HIM FOR YOUR
KIDNAPPING AND THE OTHER KIDNAPPINGS?
>> FROM ONE TO TEN, ZERO I KNOW THE AUTHORITIES DON'T
GIVE A DAMN. >> Reporter: THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT WON'T COMMENT ON POTENTIAL PROSECUTION OF ESCOBAR
FOR THE OTHER SAN MIGUEL KIDNAPPINGS.
AND AS FOR THE VALSECA CHILDREN? >> I DON'T EVEN WANNA LOOK AT
THEIR FACES. >> I DON'T -- I DON'T WANT
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM I WANT THEM --
>> ROT IN JAIL FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE
YEAH, I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I FORGIVE AND BE AS BIG AS MY MOM
AND MY FATHER ARE, BUT IT'S JUST -- IT'S JUST NOT THE CASE
>> Reporter: BUT THEY'VE MOVED ON
THEY'RE IN COLORADO NOW. COLLEGE, JOBS.
AND THEY'VE INHERITED FROM THEIR PARENTS A STUBBORN REFUSAL TO
LIVE IN THE PAST >> I JUST TRY TO STAY GRATEFUL
EVERY SINGLE SECOND THAT I GET UP IN THE MORNING AND KNOW THAT
I'M -- THAT I'M OKAY AND I HAVE THESE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL THE HELL THAT WE WENT THROUGH TOGETHER AND ALL
THE PAIN, IT HAS MADE US UNBREAKABLE.
>> Reporter: YOU WENT THROUGH IT TOGETHER
>> EXACTLY AND WE'RE FINALLY SETTLING INTO
IT, I FEEL LIKE. >> Reporter: THE LOVELY RANCH
HOUSE OUTSIDE SAN MIGUEL IS OWNED BY DEVELOPERS NOW.
THEY'RE DIGGING AWAY ON 16 NEW HOME SITES HERE.
WHAT'S IT LIKE TO SEE YOUR PLACE CARVED UP THIS WAY AND CHANGED
IN THIS -- THIS -- THESE SIGNIFICANT WAYS
>> A LOT OF EMOTIONS, FOR SURE I DON'T SEE MYSELF BACK IN HERE
AGAIN AT ALL SO YEAH.
I TRIED NOT TO BE EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT AND NOT TO THINK SO
MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT - IT'S JUST PAINFUL.
>> Reporter: AND SO IS THIS. THE WALDORF SCHOOL HAS LEFT THE
VALSECA RANCH. THE CLASSROOMS AND PLAYGROUNDS,
JAYNE'S DREAM, ARE ABANDONED, DERELICT
>> IT TOOK FOREVER TO DO THESE THINGS
SLOWLY, LITTLE BY LITTLE SO I PLANTED THOSE BIG TREES
NOW. YOU KNOW
>> Reporter: YEAH, YEAH. >> AND NOW THEY'RE BIG
SO THAT -- THAT TELLS ME, "WOW, I'M REALLY GETTING OLD."
YEAH THE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES -- I
CAN'T JUST FEEL SADNESS IN MY -- IN -- IN MY HEART.
YOU KNOW LIFE IS TOO SHORT.
>> Reporter: YOU DON'T LET THE SADNESS IN
>> NO. YOU HAVE TO FIND EXCUSES FOR
BEING HAPPY EVERY DAY INSTEAD OF BRINGING EXCUSES NOT TO BE
HAPPY. >> Reporter: THAT MIGHT BE THE
SECRET OF LIFE, YOU KNOW >>> THAT'S ALL FOR THIS EDITION
OF "DATELINE." WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY
AT 10:00, 9:00 CENTRAL AND, OF COURSE, I'LL SEE YOU
EACH WEEKNIGHT FOR "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS."
I'M LESTER HOLT. FOR ALL OF US AT NBC NEWS, GOOD
NIGHT.