FBI arrests suspect in connection with disappearance of his 14-year-old niece

The FBI has arrested a suspect in Mexico in connection with the disappearance of his 14-year-old niece.

Antonio Moreno, 31, who was living in Kaysville, Utah, for the last three years, abruptly traveled to Mexico with his niece and two daughters, ages 4 and 6, on June 30, according to the FBI’s Salt Lake City field office. Moreno did not ask their mothers for permission before leaving with the children.

All three girls were found safe by Mexican authorities in Veracruz, Mexico, at around 9:30 p.m. Friday, the FBI said in a news release. Moreno was also found along with the girls.

Moreno’s niece is an American citizen and his daughters are Mexican citizens.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Moreno for charges related to the disappearance of his niece, which includes kidnapping, according to the FBI.

“The extradition process will be initiated to bring Moreno back to the United States to answer for those charges,” the FBI said.

In a news release issued before the girls were found, the FBI said it believed Moreno and the three girls were traveling together. Surveillance video from Mexico showed the three girls getting into a taxi, the FBI said, adding that it believed Moreno could have manipulated the niece to get in the taxi.