Cypress Boy, 6, Back With Grandparents : Abduction: Daniel James Lans, who was taken away by two men, was found at his aunt’s home in Arizona.
COSTA MESA — Daniel James Lans, the 6-year-old boy abducted this week from his Cypress home in an apparent custody battle, was reunited with his grandparents late Friday after sheriff’s deputies located him at an aunt’s home in Arizona.
Sporting a blue-and-white FBI cap as he stepped off a plane from Phoenix at John Wayne Airport, Daniel Lans was scooped into the open arms of his grandfather, Dave Lans, 52.
“He looks good,” said his grandmother, Janet Lans, as she moved toward him.
“I’m just thanking God it turned out so well. I just want him to go back to his normal life,” she said.
Daniel spoke little to reporters as he squinted into the lights of television cameras, saying only he felt “fine” after his weeklong ordeal.
A pair of Cypress police detectives and an FBI agent interviewed Daniel Friday night. Janet Lans, who authorities said has had legal custody of the boy since he was 3 weeks old, said she planned to take Daniel home after the questioning.
Daniel and his grandmother were leaving their Cypress home on Monday about 8:15 a.m. when a man snatched the boy, leaving with him in a car driven by another man, police said. The grandmother suffered minor bruises trying to prevent the abduction, police said.
Authorities said they think the boy’s abductors were Aaron Espinoza, who is married to the boy’s mother, Nancy Espinoza, and Aaron’s younger brother, Michael.
On Thursday night, sheriff’s deputies in Arizona arrested Michael Espinoza, 21, on suspicion of kidnaping. Cypress police said Friday that authorities have not been able to contact Nancy or Aaron Espinoza, who live in Mesa, Ariz.
An anonymous call on Wednesday alerted Arizona authorities that Daniel was at his aunt’s house in Safford, Ariz. Deputies found the boy safe at the home of his aunt, who is not being charged.
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