(March 14, 2025) – A second of three outstanding fugitives wanted in connection with a violent kidnapping in December at a northwest Aurora apartment was arrested this week in Michigan.
Breider Jhoan Ospino-Morillo, 24, was arrested Thursday by the Auburn Hills Police Department while officers were investigating a retail fraud case at a mall in Auburn Hills, Mich. Investigators were following up on the fraud case when they observed three men exiting a store with stolen merchandise, according to a case report provided by Auburn Hills police.
The suspects ran from officers. Two were apprehended, including Ospino-Morillo. He was later positively identified by U.S. Border Patrol agents and is currently in federal custody.
Ospino-Morillo was wanted on an active Aurora Police Department warrant issued out of Arapahoe District Court on four charges of second-degree kidnapping, four charges of aggravated robbery, two charges of menacing with a deadly weapon and two charges of extortion, all felonies.
The warrant stemmed from about 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, when Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of a kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, located in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. The investigation has determined two victims were confronted by approximately a dozen armed suspects and taken to a vacant apartment against their will where they were bound, threatened and assaulted.
To date, the Aurora Police Department has sought charges against 12 suspects. With Ospino-Morillo’s arrest on Thursday, 11 of those 12 suspects are now in custody and face charges in Arapahoe District Court. One suspect remains outstanding and is wanted on active Aurora police warrants.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-251936
Information previously released.
UPDATE: Aurora Fugitive Wanted in Violent December Kidnapping Arrested in Denver
(Feb. 11, 2025) – One of three outstanding fugitives wanted in connection with a violent kidnapping in December at a northwest Aurora apartment complex was arrested this weekend in Denver on an Aurora Police Department warrant.
Yusmary Carolina Panza-Ruiz, 34, was arrested Saturday by the Denver Police Department. Panza-Ruiz was wanted on an active warrant out of Arapahoe District Court on three charges of second-degree kidnapping, two charges of extortion and one charge of second-degree burglary, all felonies.
The warrant stemmed from about 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, when Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of a kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, located in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. The investigation has determined two victims were confronted by approximately a dozen armed suspects and taken to a vacant apartment against their will where they were bound, threatened and assaulted.
To date, the Aurora Police Department has sought charges against 12 suspects. With Panza-Ruiz’s arrest on Saturday, 10 of those 12 suspects are now in custody and face charges in Arapahoe District Court. Two suspects remain outstanding and are wanted on active warrants.
“We are incredibly thankful for the collaboration with our law enforcement partners that resulted in the capture of this violent offender,” said Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain. “We will continue to pursue the remaining suspects at the highest level possible until everyone involved in this heinous and violent crime are in custody and held accountable for their actions. It’s not only our mission, but also what our community expects and demands.”
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Note: A booking photo, courtesy of the Denver Police Department, is available below in the document container.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-251936
Information previously released.
Formal Charges Filed Against 9 in Violent Kidnapping at Aurora Apartment
(Jan. 13, 2025) – The Aurora Police Department announced Monday formal charges have been filed against nine suspects involved last month in the violent kidnapping of two victims at an apartment complex in northwest Aurora.
Among the suspects charged last week in Arapahoe District Court are:
• Andres Alexander Liendo-Padilla, 26
• Javier Alexander Alvarado Parada, 24
• Jesus Alberto Alejos Escalona, 22
• Junior Reyes-Barrios, 28
• Barbara Sivle Medina-Arcaya, 29
• Donarkys Teresa Suarez-Quesada, 31
• Luigi Javier Soto-Sucre, 26
• Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta, 20
• Jengrinso Elias Loreto-Petit, 26
The suspects face varying charges including second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, aggravated robbery, second-degree burglary, extortion and menacing. In addition to the above charges, the Aurora Police Department has also obtained arrest warrants for three additional suspects. Those suspects are not yet in custody.
The charges and the warrants stem from about 2:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, when Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of a kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, located in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. The investigation to date has determined two victims were confronted by approximately a dozen armed suspects and taken to a vacant apartment against their will where they were bound, threatened and assaulted.
A total of 19 people were detained during the preliminary investigation. Three people were subsequently released after being interviewed by investigators and it was determined they were not involved in the crime.
The remaining 16 suspects are being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which includes the nine suspects charged last week in Arapahoe District Court. The additional seven suspects in ICE custody remain under investigation for the Dec. 17, 2024, kidnapping.
In addition to the cases and charges noted above, Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta was previously wanted on an active felony warrant for first-degree burglary and menacing with a deadly weapon. The warrant stemmed from Aug. 18, 2024, when a security camera captured Serpa-Acosta and five other armed men knocking on apartment doors at The Edge at Lowry about 10 minutes before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street.
By Oct. 2, 2024, Operation Safe Haven investigators positively identified and obtained arrest warrants for all six suspects. With Serpa-Acosta’s capture last month, four of the six suspects from the Aug. 18, 2024, crime are now in custody.
Operation Safe Haven is a special Aurora Police Department task force activated last August to investigate crimes involving the city’s migrant population.
The investigation into the Dec. 17, 2024, kidnapping is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-251936
Information previously released.
UPDATE: 11 Face Charges in Aurora Police Kidnapping Investigation, 8 in Custody
(Dec. 20, 2024) – The Aurora Police Department announced Friday it is seeking charges against 11 suspects in its investigation into a violent kidnapping and assault of two victims that occurred earlier this week at an apartment complex in northwest Aurora.
About 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of a kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry Apartments, located in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. The investigation to date has determined two victims were confronted by approximately a dozen armed suspects and taken to a vacant apartment against their will where they were bound, threatened and assaulted.
A total of 19 people were detained early Tuesday during the preliminary investigation. Three people were subsequently released after being interviewed by investigators. The remaining 16 suspects are being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Aurora police investigators are in the process of submitting arrest affidavits in the 18th Judicial District Court for 11 suspects. The suspects face varying charges including, second-degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery, first-degree assault, extortion and burglary, all felonies.
Eight of the 11 suspects are in ICE custody. Three of the suspects are outstanding.
The eight suspects in custody include:
• Andres Alexander Liendo-Padilla (01/06/1999).
• Jesus Alberto Alejos Escalona (02/07/2002).
• Junior Reyes-Barrios (10/15/1996).
• Barbara Sivle Medina-Arcaya (03/31/1995).
• Donarkys Teresa Suarez-Quesada (08/15/1993).
• Luigi Javier Soto-Sucre (08/18/1998).
• Niefred Jose Serpa Acosta (08/06/2004).
• Jengrinso Elias Loreto-Petit (07/19/1998).
Niefred Jose Serpa-Acosta was already wanted on an active felony warrant for burglary and menacing. The warrant stemmed from Aug. 18, when a security camera captured Serpa-Acosta and five other armed men knocking on apartment doors at The Edge at Lowry about 10 minutes before a fatal shooting in the 1200 block of Dallas Street.
By Oct. 2, Operation Safe Haven investigators positively identified and obtained arrest warrants for all six suspects. With Serpa-Acosta’s capture on Tuesday, four of the six suspects from the Aug. 18 crime are now in custody.
Operation Safe Haven is a special Aurora Police Department task force activated in August to investigate crimes involving the city’s migrant population.
The investigation into the kidnapping and assault is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-251936
Information previously released.
14 Suspects Detained in 12th & Dallas Armed Home Invasion, Kidnapping
(Dec. 17, 2024) – Fourteen people have been detained by Aurora police after officers responded to a report of a home invasion with weapons at The Edge at Lowry Apartments.
Just before 2:30 a.m., Aurora police patrol officers responded to a report of an armed home invasion involving a stabbing and kidnapping at an apartment in the 1200 block of Dallas Street. The preliminary investigation suggests several suspects entered an apartment occupied by two people. The suspects moved the victims to another apartment on the property, where they were threatened and bound. An adult male sustained a non-life-threatening stab wound during the incident.
After some time, the victims were released by the suspects, at which point they called 911. Multiple Aurora police patrol units responded to the scene. Fourteen people were detained for questioning by investigators.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-251936