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5/9/05

New Mexico Authorities Issue Amber Alert For Toddler

Source: beyondmissing.com

Source: beyondmissing.com



An Amber Alert is in effect for a missing toddler. His mother was found murdered in her Ruidoso home on Mother's Day.

Justin Black is almost 16 months old. He has brown hair, brown eyes and weighs about 20 pounds. New Mexico State Police say there is a person of interest in the case. His name is Ivan Villa.

Authorities say Villa was involved with the child's mother, though he is not the boy's father. Villa stands about 5'11" tall, weighs about 190 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt and khaki shorts, and may be driving the victim's 2000 Ford Mustang. The vehicle is silver or gray in color, with New Mexico plates - GBN 805.

Police say if you see Villa man do not approach him yourself. Instead contact the Ruidoso Police Department directly - at (505) 258-7365. Or call your local authorities.

Kidnapping Suspect's Car Found in Mexico

Police in Mexico Find Car Belonging to Man Suspected of Taking Toddler in New Mexico

By ANNA MACIAS

The Associated Press

May. 11, 2005 - Authorities were trying to determine whether a man suspected of kidnapping his wife's 16-month-old son after she was found slain was in Mexico or the United States. On Tuesday, police in Mexico found a Ford Mustang belonging to the suspect.

Ivan Villa, 22, was believed to have been driving the car found in the border town of Ciudad Juarez, about 130 miles south of the couple's Ruidoso home.

"We're still investigating to determine whether he is inside or outside the country," New Mexico state police Lt. Jimmy Glascock said.

Authorities said they were investigating a tip Tuesday afternoon that a man carrying a baby was seen walking across one of the international bridges from Ciudad Juarez to the United States. They were also looking for a white Cadillac Escalade with Texas plates that was spotted trying to tow the Mustang.

Police on Sunday had issued an Amber Alert for the toddler, Justin Black, resulting in a nationwide search.

Justin disappeared sometime after police responded Sunday afternoon to a domestic dispute between his mother, Kristi Black, 19, and Villa, her husband.

Several hours later, a friend went to the couple's apartment and found Kristi Black's body. Authorities determined she had been strangled.

Police issued a warrant for Villa's arrest on a charge of kidnapping. No charges had been filed in Black's killing. Ruidoso police Detective Jim Biggs said Wednesday they were treating Villa as a "person of interest" in her death.

Glascock said "the investigation into the homicide is continuing but the efforts right now are focusing on the recovery of the child." Authorities said Villa was not the child's biological father.

Black's mother, Dee Dee Black of Chowchilla, Calif., urged Villa to contact her and let her know Justin was safe.

"I was one of the few people he could talk to. I'd like for him to call me now," she said of Villa. "I know he's probably very confused. But I'd like to tell him to bring Justin back to us."

Carlos Gandarilla, a former boyfriend of Black's, described her as hardworking and focused on raising her son.

"She was very responsible," said Gandarilla, who lived with Black shortly after Justin's birth. "When she got paid, she always bought things for her son."



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