MIAMI — A man suspected of abducting a 1-week-old baby in Florida was found dead Wednesday afternoon north of Tampa, authorities said. However, authorities said the child has not been found.
Update 6:20 p.m. EST Jan. 29; Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a news conference that the body of 49-year-old Ernesto Caballeiro was found “about 50 yards" from a white van he was driving. Nocco said Caballeiro was found dead of a self-inflicted wound from a rifle.
Nocco said K-9 and ATVs have been patrolling the rural area where the van was found.
Nocco added deputies were told by witnesses they saw a blonde female in the van.
“We are hoping and praying to God she has the baby,” Nocco said, “and we ask that she please contact us and turn herself in."
No car seat was found inside the van, Nocco said.
Update 5:30 p.m. EST Jan. 29: Pasco County deputies said “there is no sign” 1-week-old Andrew Caballeiro was at the site in Blanton where authorities found the body of 49-year-old Ernesto Caballeiro, WFTS reported. Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco originally scheduled a news conference for 5:30 p.m. EST, but moved it back to 6:15 p.m. “to confirm additional details,” the Sheriff’s Office tweeted.
Blanton is located about 40 miles north of Tampa.
Update 5:01 p.m. EST Jan. 29: Investigators in Pasco County said they found the vehicle at the center of an Amber Alert out of Miami-Dade County, WTVT reported. Inside was a deceased male matching the wanted man’s description, but there was no sign of the abducted newborn baby.
One-week-old Andrew Caballeiro has been missing since Tuesday, the same day that authorities found the bodies of three women in Homestead.
According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, deputies found Ernesto Caballeiro, 49, dead, WFTS reported. Deputies responded to a call in a rural area of Blanton near Interstate 75 after finding a vehicle that matched what Caballeiro was last seen driving, WTVT reported.
Original report: Authorities in Florida have issued an Amber Alert for a newborn baby after police discovered three dead women in a Miami home Tuesday.
According to WPTV, 1-week-old Andrew Caballeiro has been missing since Tuesday, the same day that authorities found the women’s bodies at a home on Southwest 187th Avenue.
In a Wednesday morning tweet, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said the child may be with Ernesto Caballeiro, 49. Miami-Dade police said the man is the boy’s father.
Officials said Andrew, who is Hispanic with a bald head and black eyes, is 20 inches long and weighs 7 pounds, according to the alert.
Ernesto Caballeiro, who is also Hispanic, has brown eyes and black hair, the alert said. He stands 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 240 pounds, authorities said. Investigators believe he is driving a white 2001 Chevy Express with Florida tag HETY13 and decals that read “Nesty School Services” and “Caution: Transporting Children."
”If located, DO NOT APPROACH," the alert said. “Contact law enforcement immediately.”
If you have any information about the pair’s whereabouts, call 911 or call Miami-Dade police at 305-471-2400.