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Police: Boy’s kidnapping linked to drugs
Officials blame ‘a definite drug nexus’ as search efforts expand
Justin M. Bowen
Friends and neighbors began posting signs in the neighborhood shortly after the kidnapping occurred.
Published Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | 7:55 a.m.
Updated Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 | 7:17 p.m.
Police: The Search for Cole
Metro Police press conference on the Cole Puffinburger kidnapping case.
A Neighborhood In Fear
Neighbors of Cole Puffinburger talk about his kidnapping.
Cole Puffinburger
Sun coverage
UPDATE: Police: Kidnapped boy’s grandfather a ‘person of interest’
Metro Police on Thursday said the kidnapping of a 6-year-old boy from his home in the northeastern Las Vegas Valley a day earlier was linked to drug activity within the family.
Police Capt. Vincent Cannito said Metro Police, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies have developed significant leads in the case. He said law enforcement agencies from across the country are involved, including more than 100 detectives from the Metro Police department.
"There is a definite drug nexus between this family and drug deals," Cannito said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.
The safety of Cole Puffinger, who was kidnapped at gunpoint shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday from his home on Cherry Grove Avenue, near the intersection Hollywood and Lake Mead boulevards, was the objective of the intense police activity.
Metro's missing persons teams are working 12-hour shifts with 24-hour ongoing investigations, Cannito said.
Up to three men knocked on the door at the child's home posing as police officers, police said. After entering the home, they tied up the child's mother and her boyfriend, then ransacked the house, police said. When they didn't find money, they took Cole and left.
"This is about as brutal as it gets," Cannito said, adding that the case involves "significant amounts of money and drugs."
Cannito did not give any details as to how the family is involved in drug deals.
An Amber Alert was issued for Cole at about noon Wednesday. The Amber Alert covers Southern Nevada, California, Arizona and New Mexico. The National Centers for Missing and Exploited Children entered the case as well, which is "Amber Alert on steroids," Cannito said. The center sends the missing child's information to every casino, gas station, bus station and other place where large crowds gathered, he said.
"The longer we go, the more dangerous it becomes," Cannito said. "This child was ripped from home."
Cannito would not answer questions about any call or letter asking for ransom for the boy.
Cole is described as 3-foot-11 and weighing 48 pounds. He wears silver-rimmed prescription glasses and was last seen wearing a black John Cena WWE wrestling sweatshirt, dark jeans, a belt and Vans tennis shoes with a white stripe, police said.
The suspects are described as Hispanic. At least one man carried what police believe is a semi-automatic weapon. One is described as being in his 30s, weighing about 150 pounds and having long, slicked-back hair, police said.
A second suspect is described as about 5-foot-7 and weighing about 170 pounds.
"There's a good possibility that they are Mexican nationals so our partners in law enforcement are looking down that route," Cannito said, adding that the U.S. Border Patrol is on the alert for the boy and the suspects.
Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the boy's home to call them at 828-3111. Anyone who sees Cole is urged to call 911.
Police say they are following tips from the public. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.
Discussion: 44 comments so far…
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What is this world coming to? We have creeps out there that will kidnap this poor innocent child- just to make a few bucks. I hope they find the kidnappers and lock them up in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives.
-Hingreed
Why do we allow these people in this country. These were people related to the mother, they were looking for money. Now reports fear the boy was taken to Mexico. Thank you to all democrats who refuse to seal our border and keep Mexico's drug wars in Mexico.
Ya it's the democrats fault that for 12 years the republicans controlled congress and for 8 years there's been a Bush in the White House who all have done nothing to close our boarders to protect us from terrorists and illegal immigration.
Yup blame democrats for an ineffective republican majority. That makes sense.
Spread the word about the Amber Alert. Hopefully someone saw something that will allow law enforcement to reunite this child with his family.
UNLVStud, you are ridiculous to bring politics into this. Maybe the family memeber that was doing business with the cartel should be held responsible. This type of drug related crime makes me sick!!!
johnvegas,
I think you are barking up the wrong tree...
I am not a math expert, but I think that neiman1's post about how its the democrats fault at 10:04 am came before UNLVStud's RESPONSE to neiman1's post at 11:21....
Does the name Susan Smith ring a bell?
what makes you think the kidnappers are related to the mother?
Kidnapping is common practice in Mexico....it is spreading here. I would not assume that it is the parents aquaintances. This is troubling to everyone who has a pulse. This affects us ALL!! I Can not believe this is not a bigger story nationwide. Its not a common occurence when people break into to someones home and take their kids...maybe it is...and I dont hear it...I am not really hearing it much now....pitiful!
Also last I checked, it was the republicans who also balked at Bush's comprehensive immigration reform. If I remember right the GOP was howling about the guest worker program as AMNESTY.
And yes this isn't a place for politics. If you believe in God or whatever, do some big praying for that family.
Finally WTF, blaming the family for this? Tasteless and crass.
This is not random.
The family is involved.
How can you NOT blame the family if they were involved in DRUGS!!! The drug business is dirty business and taking a child shows just how involved in drugs this family was and just how dirty they are to let drugs come near their child! The kidnapping looks like some kind of a warning from the drug lords from Mexico and even if we seal the borders..if people go and make drug deals with Mexico..then who is to blame when the drug deals turn sour? Maybe we should place blame where it belongs..on the Drug dealers!!! If this family is involved in drugs I hope they find this child and remove him from the home and let him grow up safe and far, far, away from drugs. I have no sympathy for people who use or deal drugs and involve children. It is one thing to ruin your life, but take innocent children down the drug alley is cruel and wrong!!! I hate drugs..I hate dealers and users..they should be locked out of this country.
So all of those going on and on about closing the borders, anti-Hispanic rants and raves, parent's responsibility, on and on, blaming politicans - give me a break here.
The little boy is six years old and already cast as a drug pusher - guilty by association? Rubish!
Let's urge the casino's and big business to come up with some real reward money (like $1M) to help this young child. If the parents or childcare providers are drug dealers - then they'll get what they deserve later and hopefully not sooner.
Furthermore, this is one case if proved as a kidnapping deserves the death penalty.
I have read that the kidnappers are part of a mexican drug cartel and the grandfather of this little boy is involved. The grandfather has not lived at the address that his grandson was taken from since May 2007 and since that time has been in hiding as he stole money from these Mexican thugs...MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. So now the Mexican thugs have taken this child in retaliation thinking maybe the grandfather will come out of hiding and give back the money. Pray for this child.
I am a business owner in Phoenix and hear about kidnappings in San Diego, Ca. Illegals are infiltrating our country and our president is doing nothing about it. The only one with guts that is doing something about it is Sheriff Arpaio. I wear a gun every day now because I was robbed at gun point last year by illegals. In San Diego families are targeted, someone gets kidnapped and taken to Mexico and held for ransom. A pratice thats so common in mexico that a company named Xega in Mexico now sells a GPS chip implanted in the body and business is booming. We need that here in America and we need our politicians to wake up.
DEAL IN DRUGS, NOTHING GOOD COMES OUT OF IT. Simple as that.
When they say family that could mean anything. As someone pointed out, what if the grandfather is involved? What if the family has distanced themselves from him? Basically we don't know all the contours of the case. So while this family is heartbroken over having their son kidnapped, we shouldn't be pointing fingers at them, just yet. If the police find that the mom/boyfriend were involved, and this stemmed from that involvement, then yes they deserve severe punishment. Until then the family is going through enough right now and don't need the people who've NEVER done anything bad ever, chiming in with their two cents.
WOW... Just to re-inform there's a child missing and all focus and efforts should be about securing Cole. All you bleeding heart liberals and draconian maniacs can battle 'it' out later. Man I thought video game fan boys were bad, you idiots are worse.. for you think you have some sort of 'power' and a holier than thou intellect.
This is what life in Mexico is like every day. Why do we allow it here? The open border and loose immigration enforcement is turning our cities into the Mexican Drug wars battlefield. Deport every illegal in this country and make immigrants come through the system so we know who is here and what their background is. This is the insanity of Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. One world with no borders. Insanity.
We have been fighting the war on drugs for 50 years and it is another war we are losing. The price of drugs today are cheaper and higher quality than they were 30 years ago even with inflation. We have lost the war; we have two options. 1. Make all drugs legal and freely available, takes the profit out. 2. If you are caught selling drugs or doing drugs, you get the dealth penality 72 hours after your arrest. Society would sober up fast.
Neiman, do you understand Republicans shot down comprehensive immigration. They said it was amnesty. Now focus on the boy, and quit trying to use this tragedy to push false republican rhetoric.
These things happen in Mexico every day. The only way to keep it out of this country is to seal the border and know who enters and leaves. Sorry, it is political. Democrats want no enforcement of the immigration laws and republicans do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzKC5wwxP...
You really do sicken me. A boy is missing. Maybe worse has happened. The country is looking for him, and all you can do is spout rhetoric. I personally hope that some huge tragedy happens to you and your family and then see idiots on the internet use that as fodder for some stupid political point. You really do sicken me. This is neither the time nor the place, and I hope you are really ashamed of yourself.
to redferret. It's not rhetoric. I am concerned for the boy and more for all the others this could happen to tomorrow. Why not seal that border so we don't have to be looking for hundreds of kidnapped children as they do in Mexico.
Neiman give it a rest - I don't see any Repugnicans jumping to seal the borders either. Shame on the parents as well for getting involved in drugs and putting their own child in jeopardy this way - ya gotta know when it comes to drugs and druggies they could care less about another persons well-being - I hope they find Cole and then lock up not only the kidnappers but anyone else (including Coles family) if it's found that they've been involved in any drug activity. If that's the case then they don't deserve to be parents.
Come on folks...someone out there has to know where this poor innocent kid is! If anyone reading this knows...be a real man/woman and tell someone!!!!!...this sweet little boy had nothing to do with the whole thing. I pray someone finds him unharmed. They just need to let him go. If you want money that bad, earn a real living, work a real job...get out of the drug business...
neiman1, Once again you amaze me with your ignorance. George Bush refuses to protect our borders and welcomes illegal immigrants. He says they do work that Americans won't.Bush is doing the bidding of the U.S.chamber of Commerce who hires illegal immigrants without id's and pays them cheaper wages than Americans will accept, or under the table and below federal minimum wage standards.
Bush sends border patrol agents to prison because they protected themselves in a gun fight with a Mexican drug runner.McCain embraces Illegal immigrants, he calls them Gods children.Why do you think for years the west and southwest lation's are perdominately Republicans? Watch the interview of lation's in Colorado today on CNN. You need to listen to other sources of information than O'Rielly and Rush. You need to think before you post your ridiculous ill informed rants. Of course tomorrow you will throw up your stupid Harry Reid post which contains no logic what so ever.
neiman1, redferret makes a great point. The people who read your garbarage recognise that everyone of your posts takes a situation or point and turns it into a democrat hating issue, thus you have now become a nuisance without any credibility and somewhat of a goof ball. You actually mock O'Rielly and Rush whom you seem to want to emulate. In other words you are making a jack ass and a fool of yourself. Your position on this particular issue is tasteless,lacks facts and is wrong.
What the heck are you all doing injecting poitics in this. This is illegal drug fueled crime. This transcends geopolitical dogma. A child's life is at stake and you all go political. You should all be ashamed
neiman1: you truly are an idiot. this IS about a child and everyone should be saddened regardless of who committed this atrocious crime and why. the only concern you should have had is "how can i get him home" not "who can i direct my racist and political rants to now"... but since you couldn't resist from touching on the issue then it is now i who cannot resist...
take MY story into consideration for a second. i TOO am an illegal immigrant who came from mexico with TWO very immigrant parents and am now i am an american citizen... a 21 year old female UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering graduate preparing for law school. so opposed to what your ignorant mind believes, not all immigrants (or mexicans) are alike. we do not all go around kidnapping children and involving ourselves in drugs or other illicit behavior. There is garbage in EVERY country. this poor innocent boy's kidnapping was the result of poor decisions his grandfather made as well as a deviant criminal whom we should see as a disgusting individual NOT an immigrant. His grandfather sought trouble elsewhere and it crossed the border to come back to haunt him. This was not a random act of "mexico" transgressions... it is an ongoing fued that an AMERICAN was very much a part of.
Please take your racist postings elsewhere.
I believe that there is good and bad in all people, however, the fact remains that if people come into this country illegally, they are breaking the law. There is no if ands or buts about it. We are a law abiding country that enforces laws and no law is above breaking because people want to get out of Mexico. Drug dealers, prostitutes, illegals..all lawbreakers equally. If people want to come to this country then they should come here legally or be arrested. I have no respect for people that think they are "above the law" just because they eventually become citizens. The borders need to be sealed so we can keep the drugs and thugs from Mexico..out of here. People are scaling fences and selling everything to escape Mexico..and we just let them come over here and work without paying taxes or following the laws. Mexico is hideous and I do not want to see our country turn into little Mexico. Come into this country legally or go home!
Keep all your politcal bullS*** to yourselves and be more concerned about the real matter a hand...The life of an innocent child
Excuse me but I'm going to but in here
Yes, first the issue is a missing child and we should all pray for his safe return and keep our eyes open.
Second, this is a blog to post what we want, within respecful limits to each other and I am outraged that redferret would post this to Neiman1
Post By redferret to Neiman at 10/17/08 at 8:05 a.m.
"I personally hope that some huge tragedy happens to you (meaning Neiman1) and your family (Neiman1's family)."
Your comment to that person was grossly disgusting and quite disturbing and you should absolutely be ashamed of yourself to wish harm on him and his family and to boot, post it.
Redferret, while I am praying for Cole's safe return, I will also throw in a pray for your hostile, hate-filled soul.
Oh and just for the record the word ILLEGAL is another way of saying NOT LEGAL. The last time I checked, when someone does something illegal it is punishable by law...whether the CRIME be robbery, kidnapping, or ILLEGALLY smuggling your body into the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAl, even if you have finally achieved a law degree, or are a practicing doctor or a drug cartel. The key word here is ILLEGAL.
Well USAjustice,
I was letting neiman know that maybe he would be more understanding of the situation if the same situation was happening to him. The idea being that if your family was in a massive crisis and one of them might be killed, you would take exception to people trying to politicize the issue for blatantly political means. As in this was to make him see it from that family's side.
I am not hostile, I'm not hate filled. I just take exceptions to people taking a personal crisis and trying to use it for something so tawdry as political gain.
So get off your soap box, and if it really offends you that much, why don't you flag it?
Nah, I'm not going to flag it as I don't want to get up off my soapbox to do so, nor am I the blog police. I do however, doubt the family is reading this blog, but it's really nice of you and everyone else on this blog striving to keep this blog free of poltical party choice or opinions. Yes a child is missing, has been kidnapped by drug cartelling thugs, of which his grandfather is involved with, but DIRECTLY POLITICS are involved, no matter what anyone's choice of party is. OUR BORDERS NEED TO BE SEALED ... to keep the THUGS out. Thugs won't contribute to anything more than crime. ILLEGAL ALIENS have no right to be here. The key word is ILLEGAL...meaning not allowed....meaning punishable by law.... and that comment was meant for you Nenadivina cause apparently, despite going to UC Berkeley, you seem to have a problem with the meaning ILLEGAL. We need to start taking care of our own, like COLE PUFFINBURGER, my children, your children and the AMERICAN CHILDREN and AMERICAN ELDERS and seal up the borders.
My prayers are with the Puffinburgers for Cole's swift and safe return.
Does the name Jo Ma Ma ring a bell?
USAJustice
I truly hope your right about the family members reading these blogs, But what about close Friends to cretin family members
A blog. This is a blog for thoughts, prayers and well wishes. No one is saying anything out of line here, we are stating our views about Cole, our borders and criminal thugs and that is exactly who has kidnapped this child a deal drugging thug who came into this country illegally to get their money back from Cole's grandfather and they could not find him or the money so they took the child. Now if the borders was sealed, thereby prohibiting access in, I'm sure Cole would be sitting home right now in front of his tv watching Saturday morning cartoons and I would bet my life on it that his mother wishes the borders had been sealed too. Her father was involved...she was not.
My prayers and thoughts are with the Puffinburgers for Cole's swift and safe return.
USAJustice...
funny that you share your thoughts. i was a child when i was brought to this country. my parents and had no such say in the matter. i was not "involved" in the decision making. i became very much legal and am proud of what i've become today. i gave up all mexican citizenship and am an offical american citizen... just like you : ) and as opposed to what you believe... immigrants in fact DO pay taxes... they use false social security numbers and pay taxes and into social security benefits they will never claim since their number is not legal. (which btw i have a leagal social security number as well!!!)
my entire point was nothing more then not just mexico has thugs... so does the US and every other country. and you commenting that mexico is ugly just goes to show you have not travelled enough. but that's your ignorant opinion. and lest you forget yet again... grandfather brought these thugs out of mexico they didn't just randomly choose the home. he grandfather took unremorsefully from criminals who have no concern for borders or laws.
"ANGER MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM WITH COLE PUFFINBURGER" ??
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My thoughts, my views and my actions are all based on what is legal i.e., not a crime and not punishable by law.
Nena divina, you said you came here illegally....hence doing anything illegal is a crime...you just got away with it. An illegal alien is an illegal alien, an imigrant is not ILLEGAL, therefore it is not I who is ignorant. Once again, despite going to UC Berkeley, you don't understand the difference between the words legal, illegal and immigrant.
You and your family arrived illegally and have lived here...that is basically an uncaught crime, whether or not you are giving back to the United States of America, it should not be pardoned It's like the person who robs a bank and gives the money to charity. Though in the end the robber did a good thing, initially a crime was committed. Get it.
Oh and btw, never said Mexico was ugly...could care less about Mexico or any other country. And bringing in the extent of my travels has absolutely nor bearing on anything. As a legal American upon birth, I said close the borders and closing the borders does not mean to just Mexico it means to all people sneaking in illegally. I love my country and I like many Americans do not want any illegal aliens here reaping the benefits of my country without giving back I do not discriminate against ILLEGAL ALIENS, I do not like any of them whether they be Mexican, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Polish, German, Middle Eastern etc.
I pray for Cole's swift and safe return and will light a candle in Church to guide him home.
Good Post USA!!! You speak the truth about Nena divina.
i never said coming her illegal was legal. i do understand it was illegal... i was simply saying i was merely a child and i cannot be blamed. i am just as patriotic as you are... and am JUST as american as you are.
my issue began with everyone making comments about "thugs" from mexico. there are thugs EVREYWHERE was my point... not just in mexico.
thank god for cole's return!!!