Child Abduction Quickly Thwarted By VCSO & Crime Center

Posted
Bonita Soto
(Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

DeLeon Springs, FL - The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is thanking their team in the Volusia County Crime Center (known as VC3) for their help in thwarting a child abduction.

According to VCSO, deputies were alerted just before 10:30 this morning (August 21st) about the incident at a home off of Tomoka Woods Parkway. The report says the 25-year-old pregnant victim called 911 and reported that a female had forced entry into her home, battered her and took her roommate's child, whom she was babysitting.

VCSO says that the suspect turned out to be the child's grandmother, 68-year-old Bonita Soto, who was not permitted to take care of the boy due to substance abuse issues.

Despite having minimal information to go on, Crime Center analysts had identified the suspect and her vehicle, and distributed a photograph of the vehicle by email.

By 10:31 a.m., a deputy located the car as it fled the area on International Speedway Boulevard.

A traffic stop was performed at the intersection of Alabama Avenue and Valencia Court and the child was found safe with the suspect. Soto was taken into custody at that time without incident.

The boy was turned over to his father while Soto was charged with burglary with battery and felony battery of a pregnant person. The boy's father later chose not to pursue charges against his mother, Soto, for kidnapping.

Soto was transported to Volusia County Jail, where she now sits on a $35,000 bond.

VCSO is crediting the crime center for providing all law enforcement officers in Volusia access to real-time intelligence and support from a team of analysts.