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pic of Blanca Soldier-kidnap victim pic of Erwing Rico-kidnap suspect

SALT LAKE CITY — Detectives are looking for help from the public to locate the victim of a kidnapping who is believed to have been forcibly taken by her boyfriend.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 8, 2014, police were notified that 24-year-old Blanca Soldier (pictured above left) was missing from 1000 N. 940 W. area since the night of Tuesday, October 7, 2014.  On Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Soldier went outside this address and was heard arguing with someone on the phone.  Soldier never returned inside.

Detectives discovered that officers responded on Tuesday night, around 8:30 p.m. to a report of a suspicious circumstance close to this address.  Witnesses reported to police that a male was assaulting a female in the street and then forced her into a vehicle and sped away.  Witnesses were able to give officers a plate number from the vehicle. That plate number is registered to Erwing Rico (9/6/88) (pictured above right) in Midvale.  Officers made contact at that address on Tuesday night, but neither the vehicle nor Rico were located.

Detectives believe the suspicious circumstance reported on Tuesday night was Rico and Soldier.  Rico and Soldier have three children together and have a history of domestic violence.  Erwing Rico has two outstanding warrants for domestic violence against Soldier for similar circumstances, and Soldier is believed to be in danger.  Soldier currently has an injured leg that requires her to walk with crutches; however, her crutches were left behind when she disappeared on Tuesday night.

The vehicle from the suspicious circumstance on Tuesday night has been recovered by detectives.  A second vehicle Rico was believed to be in, a black Mitsubishi Diamonte, has also been recovered.  It is now believed that Rico is in a white 1997 Chevy Tahoe with Utah plate #Y031GT.

Blanca Soldier has not been heard from since Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 8:30 p.m.

Erwing Rico’s description:

  • Hispanic male
  • 26 years old
  • Shaved head
  • Wearing black/grey striped shirt and tan shorts

Blanca Soldier’s description:

  • Hispanic female
  • 24 years old
  • Long brown hair

The Public Information Officer will be back in the office at 8:00 a.m. for further inquiries, unless breaking information becomes available, in which case the PIO will release it immediately.

To share information about this or other criminal activity with the Salt Lake City Police Department, please call (801) 799-3000. To remain anonymous, text the keyword TIPSLCPD plus any relevant information to 274637. Reference: case #14-175418.

 

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