Missing boy found safe; Durham man charged

Durham, N.C. — A Durham man is charged in connection with a domestic dispute and kidnapping that prompted authorities to issue an Amber Alert early Monday for a missing 5-year-old boy.

The alert for the boy was canceled about 8:30 a.m. – two hours after it was issued – after Durham police said he was found unharmed and returned to his mother.

The mother's boyfriend, Santos Reynaldo Aplicano Gomez, is charged with communicating threats, assault on a female, assault by strangulation, kidnapping, battery of an unborn child, assault in the presence of a minor and interfering with emergency communications.

Officers responded to a domestic dispute about 11:34 p.m. Sunday at the mother's apartment in the 2300 block of Lednum Street. The woman told police she was injured in a fight with her boyfriend and that he left with her 5-year-old son and his 4-year-old son.

The woman was taken to a nearby hospital while police began searching for Gomez. He was found with both children. Police did not give details on how and where Gomez was located.

Gomez was being held Monday afternoon at Durham Police Headquarters.

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Latest Comments

Pepe Silvia, I agree with you 100%!!

michaelclay
March 11, 2013 5:10 p.m.

Life-goes-on - "An Amber alert is only supposed to be issued when it's believed the child is in danger. That usually translates to "with the father" and seldom is the father actually a threat to the child. It's more likely the system is being played to the mothers advantage to make the father appear unstable and threatening."

What a bunch of rubbish!!!

I guess you've forgotten the number of times in the past year alone that children were taken by an angry parent and murdered by them, just to spite the other parent.

Should we risk children's lives just because some are sick of seeing Amber Alerts?

Should the lives of children be risked just because a parent who took them in anger rarely does harm to them.

Shouldn't we do all we can to protect children???

What kind of lives do some of you oblivious people live that the safety and lives of children are so unimportant to you???

Iak Hsehpen
March 11, 2013 3:25 p.m.

Obamacare rises - "I don't believe these amber alerts any more. I've seen so many false alarms I disrgeard them all now."

Duh!!!

I certainly hope if someone takes your children, others listen to the Amber Alerts about it.

Some of you are just oblivious to the fact that this could happen to you, or to someone close to you. Then you'd pay attention to them.

Iak Hsehpen
March 11, 2013 3:22 p.m.

superman - "We dont need an amber alert when they know who took the children."

He beat their pregnant mother badly enough that she needed hospital treatment. How was she or the authorities to know he wasn't beating (or worse) the children too.

Several times last year, an angry parent took the children and killed them to get back at the other parent.

How was anyone to know this wasn't going to turn into the same thing?

If these were your children, you'd certainly want an Amber Alert.

Wouldn't you!!!

Iak Hsehpen
March 11, 2013 3:20 p.m.

I don't believe these amber alerts any more. I've seen so many false alarms I disrgeard them all now.

Obamacare rises
March 11, 2013 3:12 p.m.