Angelica Vences-Salgado called police on September 2 saying she had been contacted on social media by a woman claiming to be her daughter, Jacqueline Hernandez, the Clermont Police Department said in a news release on Monday.
The woman who contacted Vences-Salgado said she was in Mexico and wanted to meet her at the border in Laredo, Texas, on September 10, the police department said.
Detectives later learned that both women were at the Point of Entry in Laredo that day.
Police said the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Florida Intelligence Exchange, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations worked together to determine the identity of the woman claiming to be Vences-Salgado’s missing daughter.
At around 2 p.m. on Friday, officers from HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Laredo Police Department intercepted Vences-Salgado and the woman.
“Based on the documentation provided to these agencies by Angelica and Clermont Police Department, they determined that the female was indeed Jacqueline Hernandez who was abducted from her mother in 2007,’ the police department said
“At approximately 4:55 pm, Jacqueline, now 19 years old was successfully reunited with her mother.”
The police department also released a photo of Vences-Salgado embracing her daughter after they reunited.
Hernandez was allegedly kidnapped by her father, Pablo Hernandez, on December 22, 2007, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said at the time.
In a flyer, the agency said Pablo Hernandez may have traveled to Mexico with his daughter. A warrant for kidnapping was issued.
Police have not released details about what happened to Jacqueline Hernandez after her abduction. Clermont Police Department has been contacted for additional comment.
The department thanked the agencies involved in reuniting the pair.
“This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when multiple law enforcement agencies and their respective communities work cooperatively together and maintain open lines of communication,” Clermont Police Chief Charles Broadway said.
“In this case, several agencies in different counties and states across the nation were able to create a force multiplier and aid in reuniting the victim with her mother after 14 years.”
HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti added: “A kidnapped daughter was reunited with her mother as a result of enforcement working together.
“This is a great example of how strong partnerships in law-enforcement can work to solve problems no matter the complexity or distance.”
