Two Venezuelan men have been arrested and charged in connection with a violent kidnapping, robbery, and attempted murder of a woman in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, on January 21. The crime, which involved the abduction and severe assault of the victim, prompted a multi-state investigation spanning several months.
The victim, a 58-year-old woman, was found in critical condition on the night of the attack. Around 9:20 p.m., she flagged down a driver along Interstate 90 near milepost 57. The driver immediately contacted authorities and transported the woman to nearby medics, who then rushed her to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for urgent treatment.
Detectives revealed that the woman had been abducted from her apartment in Burien by three Venezuelan men, who had stolen $20,000 worth of gold jewelry from her. During the ordeal, the suspects allegedly threatened to kill her and her family and used a power drill to try to extract her banking information.
The suspects then drove her to Snoqualmie Pass, where they pushed her over a concrete barrier and shot her in the shoulder. Believing she had been left to die, the woman played dead for 15 minutes before she managed to escape and seek help.
After leaving the woman for dead, the suspects returned to her apartment, took her car, and fled the scene. The investigation, which took three months, was led by local law enforcement from Kittitas and King County Sheriff’s Offices, Lake Oswego Police Department, and the FBI. The investigation spanned across multiple states, including Oregon, Illinois, and Texas.
The suspects have been identified as Kevin Daniel Sanabria Ojeda, 24, and Alexander Moises Arnaez-Gutierrez, 25. Sanabria Ojeda was apprehended in Chicago while in possession of the stolen car, and authorities recovered the woman’s jewelry from his motel room. Arnaez-Gutierrez was arrested last week in Seattle. Both men face charges of first-degree attempted murder, kidnapping, and robbery. They are currently being held on $1 million bail.
A third suspect has been identified, and law enforcement continues to investigate his involvement in the crime.
Authorities have also linked at least one of the suspects to Tren De Aragua, a violent criminal organization based in Venezuela. Sheriff Clay Myers condemned the brutality of the crime, emphasizing the need for increased action to address violent crime.
“This case highlights the growing threat of violent crime we must confront on every level of law enforcement,” said Sheriff Myers. “We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of the FBI, King County Sheriff’s Office, and all partners who helped bring these individuals to justice.”
