U.S. Soldier Missing Near Mexico Border

Missing Mexico Border Family says Fort Hood-Based Army Private Missing About a Week Was Kidnapped According to Officials..

by Associated Press

Published: Wed, July 22, 2009 - 8:43 am CST Last Updated: Wed, July 22, 2009 - 8:46 am CST

(AP) A Fort Hood-based soldier has been missing for about a week since telling family members he was heading to a Texas border town, and the FBI says the Army was told the missing private had been kidnapped, the soldier's brother said Tuesday.

The family of Pfc. James Gonzalez, 24, last saw him July 11 at his mother's house in Robstown, near Corpus Christi, said his older brother, J.C. Gonzalez. James Gonzalez said he was headed to Laredo that afternoon to hang out with friends before returning to base July 13, his brother said.

But on July 13, Gonzalez's commander called looking for the private. Later that day, the FBI called the family to say that the Army had received a call saying that Gonzalez had been kidnapped. The caller demanded $100,000 and the withdrawal of all troops from the border.

About 575 National Guard troops remain on the border, but the thousands that had been patrolling the area withdrew last year.

The FBI referred questions to the Army, which is leading the investigation.

Fort Hood directed questions about the case to U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command in Northern Virginia, which did not immediately respond to phone messages Tuesday seeking comment.

J.C. Gonzalez said his brother was familiar with the border city of Laredo and had not mentioned any plans to cross into Mexico, directly across the Rio Grande. For the past week his cell phone has gone straight to voicemail, he has not logged into his MySpace Web page and authorities have not been able to track his car, a 2006 BMW, which was fitted with a tracking device, said J.C. Gonzalez.

If Gonzalez was going to take off, "he would have told somebody," his brother said. "It's not like him at all."

James Gonzalez's decision to join the Army about a year and a half ago surprised his family, but they supported the decision, J.C. Gonzalez said. It seemed to be a good change for him.

"He was pretty happy," his brother said. "He had a house, a car and had taken that step to manhood. He was enjoying himself."

The family has so far been frustrated by the Army's response.

"We don't feel the Army is taking it as seriously as we are," J.C. Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez was awaiting trial this fall on misdemeanor charges stemming from an argument with his girlfriend. His brother said that it was being handled and would have been no reason for him to disappear.

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SamRock Says:

Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 10:28 am

Sirk, you hit the nail on the head. He was found in Laredo leaving a relatives house. Army doesn’t buy his story.

Sirk Says:

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 3:19 pm

I’m wondering if he wasn’t about to head overseas for a mission and he did not want to go and decided to pretend he was kidnapped. You never can tell what people will do these days to get out of whatever they don’t want to do.

This could still be a real kidnapping, but first thoughts were he wanted to disappear.

Mike x51 Says:

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 9:39 am

Another good outcome from that would be rounding up Mexicans and giving jobs back to the Americans who want and need them. Everyone thinks that Americans dont want jobs that make you work hard. BS! We have about 15 burners where I work, supposedly all “legal” contracted thru another company, I’m not even going to comment on that. Since the economy has been down I have had atleast one person a week asking me if we are hiring for those jobs that “no American would want”.

Mike x51 Says:

Wed, Jul 22, 2009 at 9:31 am

Let’s invade Mexico. Terrorist kidnapped a US soldier and are holding him hostage in demand that America pull out troops from an area that they see as there territory, drug lords. How is that any different than the Taliban? I’m sure all the drugs that have come from Mexico over the years have destroyed way more lives than those who died on Sept. 11th. War on Terror anyone?