Kidnapping suspect arrested in Mesa County after multi-agency manhunt

MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KKCO) — A Texas man wanted on a nationwide kidnapping warrant is in custody after Mesa County deputies located him at a DeBeque gas station late on March 9.

Deputies said they received information that a wanted man and an endangered underage girl were traveling through the area in a black 2007 GMC Yukon with Texas license plates. Just before 11 p.m. on March 9, Mesa County deputies spotted the vehicle at a gas station in DeBeque.

Multi-agency search

Colorado State Patrol, the DeBeque Marshals, Garfield County deputies and other agencies were also involved in the search at the time of the arrest.

Suspect and charges

Deputies arrested Francisco Vargas Pegueros, 23, of Texas. He was wanted by authorities in Jerome, Idaho, on a nationwide $1 million cash-only warrant for second-degree kidnapping.

Investigators said details of the kidnapping are part of the Jerome Police Department’s case.