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Torrealba Speaks About Kidnapping Ordeal

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Jun 15, 2009 5:28 am US/Mountain

Torrealba Speaks About Kidnapping Ordeal

Police Say Crime Was An 'Inside Job'

DENVER (CBS4) ― Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba spoke publicly about his son's kidnapping in Venezuela for the first time over the weekend.

Torrealba's fame as a baseball player is likely why his 11-year old son was targeted.

Fortunately, the kidnappers seemed to lack a bit of confidence in what they were doing. They first asked for $500,000, then lowered it to $150,000. Their last attempt was $50,000 before they gave up and let the child go.

Torrealba has been working with Venezuelan police. They tell him it was not random.

There were apparently six men involved. Police are narrowing in on the suspects but have not yet made any arrests.

Although Torrealba is thrilled to have his son back safely he says wants the men involved caught.

"It was really really sad. Hard," recalled Torrealba of the ordeal.

The kidnappers threatened to kill his son if they didn't get money.

"They figure if they talk to me knowing how close I am with my son, they probably could've got more money."

Torrealba's son and two uncles were kidnapped on the way to school in his native Venezuela. He flew down right away and was there as his wife negotiated with the kidnappers.

"(I was) seeing my wife try to negotiate with these guys, crying every two seconds, praying."

For 48 hours Torrealba didn't know if he would see his son again.

Police told him not to pay the ransom.

"For whatever reason they let him go before they got any money."

Torrealba says his son was treated well by the kidnappers. He is happy and healthy.

"He was so cool. He even asked me how the team was doing. I said, 'Don't worry about the team right now, just worry about yourself,'" he said.

Now Torrealba's wife and son are in Denver much to the relief of his Venezuelan family and his Rockies family.

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki spoke for the team when he said that "we're definitely happy to see him and know that everything's all right. I can only imagine how hard that is."

Police told Torrealba that they believe it was an inside job, which means one of Torrealba's close friends or family members was involved.

Torrealba wants to thank all of the fans and his teammates who supported him through the ordeal.

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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