Background of the Family and Case Introduction

On September 22, 2008, in LaBelle, Florida—a tight‑knit community in Hendry County—2‑year‑old Carlos Miguel Ventura‑Santos vanished along with his 9‑month‑old brother, Nery. The brothers’ disappearance was not an isolated incident but rather a familial abduction, reportedly carried out by their non‑custodial parents: Evangelina Santos and Oscar Ventura‑Sosa. What began as a tragic day for the boys turned into an enduring mystery over a decade later.

Circumstances of the Abduction

According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement bulletins, both boys left home with their mother and father. Law enforcement believed they were traveling in a 1995 green Chevrolet Blazer, a four‑door SUV with dark tinted windows and Florida license plate F261IF. At the time, Carlos measured approximately 2’6″ and weighed 42 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, though bulletins later identified his eye color as blue....Read More