HPD finds woman feared kidnapped in northeast Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The missing woman who was at the center of a police investigation was found safe Monday evening. Now investigators are searching for answers into why she was taken.

Families in one northeast Houston neighborhood are still upset but are also relieved that this abduction ended with the victim being found alive and unharmed.

Investigators say at about 11:30am Monday, 29-year-old Elsa Yaneth Munos Romero was running down Shot well Street, madly yelling for help and saying that someone was trying to kill her. She even went to one home and knocked on the door. When the homeowner opened it, he says she threw her Honduran passport at him and was taken into an SUV by a man and a woman.

The witness said both of the man and woman who took her had MS-13 gang tattoos. MS-13 is an particularly violent gang, heavily involved in human trafficking, prostitution and other illegal activity.

"You see little kids running up and down trying to be in gangs, but I've never heard of MS-13 being here in this neighborhood," neighbor Yolanda Gonzales said.

"I've never noticed or seen any violence at all. It's always quiet," neighbor Monica Rios said. At about 7:30 Monday, HPD homicide detectives confirmed they had located Romero unharmed, and they are interviewing her for details about the abduction.

Tip leads to two arrests in kidnapping case, one man sought

Houston police have arrested two suspects and are asking for the public's help in locating a third suspect wanted for inquiring in the assault and kidnapping of a woman at 8800 Lake Forest Boulevard about 2am on June 30.

Police say a 28-year-old woman was arguing with her boyfriend at a convenience store at 9430 Mesa at Tidwell. She got into a car with three unknown men and was driven around the Lakewood Subdivision.

During this time, police say the woman was physically assaulted and a rape attempt was made before she was able to escape and run away. She suffered non life-threatening injuries.

Police say Roy Dean Griffin, 20, and Delton T. Sidney, 21, are in custody and charged with kidnapping. Justin Darreal Johnson, 20, is wanted for questioning in the case.

The suspects and victim were seen on surveillance video at the Time Saver convenience store on Mesa. After police released that video to the public, a Crime Stoppers tip leads to the identities of the three wanted suspects. Sidney and Griffin were arrested on Monday without incident. Police say Griffin had changed his look and cut his dreadlocks since the day of the incident.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Justin Johnson is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.