Amber alert, arrest warrants issued in Madison kidnapping

From staff reports
Published: June 18, 2008

Authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Antonio Dejesus Granados, 18, of Houston, in the kidnapping of 17-year-old William Alexander Benitez of Madison.
Granados is charged with kidnapping and burglary, Detective Dana Taylor said. Taylor said he was the only one identified from the incident and is a cousin.
An Amber Alert has been issued for Benitez. Granados is about 5 feet, 6 inches, 138 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.
The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office says the boy’s uncle, Jose Benitez Rivera, said some people entered his home at 151 Stephanie Lane early Wednesday morning and took the boy, as well as some money. The home is off U.S. 220 South near Williams Road in the 220 Mobile Home Park.
It appears the suspects—several Hispanic males and a Hispanic female—forced their way into the home through a rear door. One of the suspects got a knife from the kitchen and threatened Benitez. After taking some items from the home, the suspects forced Benitez to go with them as they left in a red vehicle and a black 1993 Honda Civic, the sheriff’s office says.
Surrounding law agencies were told to watch for the suspect vehicles and the Honda Civic was reported as involved in a Guilford County traffic accident a short time later. The suspects ran from the scene of the wreck.
Dean Venable, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said Wednesday it was unknown which car Benitez left in or if he was in the car involved in the accident.
“There’s no evidence he was with the suspects when they were involved in the wreck,” Venable said. “We just know he’s still missing and it’s important that we find him. He’s only 17 years old.”
Venable said others inside the home were victims of minor assaults and witnessed the crime, but a language barrier has hindered the case from moving forward as quickly as investigators would like.
“We have already made some progress and are working every lead that comes in,” Venable said. “But we’d still like for anyone with information to call and help us locate this young man.” Anyone with information is asked to call Taylor at (336) 634-3238 or 349-9683.

Suspects Honda Civic was involved in a traffic accident in Guilford County.