Felix Batista

Felix Batista is a Cuban-American^[1] anti-kidnapping expert and former U.S. Army major who has negotiated resolution to nearly 100 kidnapping and ransom cases,^[2] dozens of them in Mexico.^[3] Batista was a consultant for Houston, Texas-based security firm ASI Global.^[2] In December 2008, he was kidnapped in Mexico.

Kidnapping

On December 10, 2008, Batista was kidnapped outside a restaurant in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico by unknown assailants^[2] while there to speak and give anti-kidnapping advice.^[4]

Batista was in a restaurant with several other people when he received a phone call, according to a written statement released by the state attorney general's office in Saltillo.

After speaking on the telephone, he told his colleagues that several people in a white pickup were going to give him a message, said the statement. He got into a vehicle which did not match the description he had given his colleagues. Since then, no one has had any communication with him and no one has ever claimed responsibility for his kidnapping.

The statement said there was no sign of violence at the scene.^[5]

Military

Felix I. Batista, while a Major in the Florida Army National Guard and commander of a Military Intelligence Company was instrumental in developing a field training exercise called "Red Scorpion" which is now used NGB-wide by other National Guard Military Intelligence units.

References

1. Julieta, Martínez (2008-02-21). "Destaca México en número de secuestros" (in Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
2. Stevenson, Mark (2008-12-15). "US anti-kidnapping expert kidnapped in Mexico". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on December 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
3. "Kidnappings soar in Mexico". AZ Central. 2008-04-23. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
4. Lacey, Marc (December 16, 2008). "Anti-kidnapping consultant kidnapped in Mexico". The New York Times.
5. "'Please have mercy,' wife begs kidnappers - CNN.com". CNN. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2010-05-02.