Henderson kidnapping victim left trail of clues

As a blindfolded Melissa Duran was taken from her home, to her kidnappers' car, and finally to the bathroom floor of a dingy apartment, she left a trail of clues.

The 17-year-old left a piece of clothing in the car, and police found a pair of her gold bracelets on the bathroom floor. Melissa had seen the Las Vegas-themed TV show "CSI" and wanted to leave evidence in case the kidnappers moved her, she said.

But despite her quick wits, the real-life police did not need her help.

The new details of the Henderson teen's kidnapping last week were revealed Thursday in the suspects' arrest reports.

Alejandro Manuel Sanchez-Sanchez, 25, and Cesar Sanchez, 30, both of Las Vegas, were aiming for a $100,000 ransom, the report said. They snatched Melissa from her Henderson home about 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 31.

But the kidnappers had not thought ahead, police said.

They called Melissa's parents from a personal cellphone that was registered to one of their apartments, police said.

Officers then staked out the apartments on Flower Avenue, near Stewart and Eastern avenues in Las Vegas, and saw the suspects enter three separate units.

The distinctive red getaway car with the blue fender - found abandoned and burned shortly after photos were released to news media the day of the kidnapping - was registered to an address at the complex, the report said.

About 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Melissa was rescued, and the suspects were arrested, during a SWAT raid. At least one of the men had worked with Melissa's father, the Henderson police report said.

The girl had been kept without food and water for more than 20 hours but was otherwise unharmed, police said.

But police said the threat was always looming. Melissa had been tied up, and the kidnappers told her parents she would be killed, police said.

Police also found "owe sheets" in the apartment for payments of $100 totaling $1,500, the report said. Police suspect the money was related to human trafficking, the report said.

Both suspects were booked into the Henderson Detention Center on kidnapping, extortion and conspiracy charges. They are being held without bail on a federal immigration hold.

Immigration holds keep inmates jailed for potential immigration violations, preventing their release pending trial if they post bond on the criminal charges.

The report hints at a third suspect, but police had not named another suspect as of Thursday afternoon.

Henderson and Las Vegas officers assisted in the arrest.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0283.