N.M. toddler safely home; father may have fled to Mexico

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — A man wanted for taking his 2-year-old son after setting fire to his girlfriend's parents' mobile home crossed the border into Mexico after the toddler was safely returned to relatives in New Mexico, according to the Doña Ana County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office. The child is safe and in good health, according to Sheriff's officials.

An AMBER Alert was issued for Ethan Jacquez on Monday night, after his 23-year-old father, Sergio Guadalupe Jacquez, allegedly beat the child's grandfather, set fire to the family's mobile home, and left with the toddler in a stolen pickup truck. Jacquez remains at large. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and bond was set at $100,000 cash.

Border officials confirmed to sheriff's deputies Monday night that the white Ford was picked up on a license plate reader at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Deputies are working with federal officials to locate Jacquez, who has been charged with arson, aggravated battery, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, abuse of a child and battery.

According to detectives, Jacquez went to the home of his son’s maternal grandparents in La Mesa, N.M., just after 1 p.m. Monday, demanding to take his son. The boy’s grandfather refused to let the boy go, prompting Jacquez to allegedly strike the grandfather repeatedly. The boy’s grandmother was inside the home at the time, where the boy was reportedly sleeping.

Jacquez reportedly forced his way into the home and poured gasoline inside. According to the grandparents, Jacquez then set the home on fire. When the smoke forced the woman and the boy outside, Jacquez reportedly shoved the woman to the ground and took his son, reportedly fleeing in the grandparents' 2001 white Ford F-150 pickup truck.

The grandfather told detectives Jacquez retrieved the gasoline from his vehicle, and also allegedly poured gasoline on the grandfather as well.

Doña Ana County firefighters who arrived at the home reported that it was a total loss. Sheriff’s deputies immediately began the process of working with New Mexico State Police to issue an AMBER Alert for the missing boy. A series of events that are required to successfully launch the alert had to be completed prior to the alert being issued.

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