26 immigrants say they were kidnapped, left in desert
by Astrid Galvan - Dec. 16, 2008 11:05 AM
The Arizona Republic

Authorities on Monday found a group of 26 immigrants who said they were kidnapped and left in the desert for eight days without food or water, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office.

The group included four young women and four children.

Sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle near 11-Mile Corner Road and the Santa Cruz River, south of Eloy, on Monday morning.

Both PCSO and the Border Patrol found eight people who told them there were more people further down by the river.

Authorities located an additional 18 immigrants.

They said they had been kidnapped on their way to Phoenix from Chiapas, Mexico, by armed subjects who told them to stay by the river.

The immigrants were turned over to the Border Patrol, according to PCSO.

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