According to the Houston Police Department, a Spring Branch resident, Houston Charles-Stephens, has been arrested for committing two kidnappings within a span of two days. His alleged targets were food delivery drivers operating in the Spring Branch area.
In both incidents, Charles-Stephens reportedly brandished a firearm, forcing the victims to drive to an ATM. The 18-year-old now faces charges of two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon.
Authorities credited the apprehension of Charles-Stephens, in part, to a language barrier. In the second kidnapping, the victim managed to persuade the suspect to allow him to call his wife, who was more proficient in English. Utilizing her phone’s tracking feature, she relayed information to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Juan Chavez, one of the victims, recounted how his wife’s quick thinking and resourcefulness potentially saved his life. During the ordeal, Vanessa Chavez tracked her husband’s location through his phone, suspecting that something was amiss during his late-night Uber Eats deliveries.
When Juan was held at gunpoint, he managed to communicate with his wife, who cleverly extended the conversation to buy time and alert the authorities discreetly. Eventually, the police intercepted them, ensuring Juan’s safety.
It was revealed that Charles-Stephens had also kidnapped and robbed another food delivery driver from Domino’s Pizza the previous day, underscoring the severity of the situation.
Vanessa Chavez emphasized that food delivery, which was her husband’s side job to support their twin babies, would no longer be an option for them due to safety concerns. To aid the family in this challenging time, a GoFundMe campaign has been initiated.
