MIAMI, FL — Miami-Dade police remained hopeful Thursday that someone will provide a tip that leads to missing newborn Andrew Caballeiro, even as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office suspended its search for the child in a rural area of central Florida where the baby’s father was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted rifle wound a day earlier.
“Our detectives continue to work tirelessly on this tragic case as we desperately seek any information on the whereabouts of this innocent baby,” Miami-Dade Police Director Alfredo Ramirez III said in a statement. “I urge anyone with any information that may help to contact 911 or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS immediately.” See also Search Continues For Miami-Dade Newborn; Father Found Dead
The body of 49-year-old Ernesto Caballeiro was found Wednesday about 35 miles from Tampa, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies there searched the surrounding area for the child with bloodhounds and even riders on horseback after Caballeiro’s white Ford van was discovered on a stretch of Jessamine Road about 3 miles from Interstate 75.
“After an exhaustive search of the area identified by Sheriff (Chris) Nocco in last night’s press conference, there has been no evidence discovered at the scene that confirms Andrew Caballeiro was with Ernesto Caballeiro in Pasco County,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
Miami-Dade police said Caballeiro and the baby have been missing since three women were found dead by a family member around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday from gunshot wounds inside a home in the 21900 block of SW 187th Avenue. An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday, and the shooting victims have been identified as Arlety Garcia Valdes, 40, Isabela Valdes, 60, and Lina Gonzalez, 84. At least two of the women lived in the home were the shooting took place.
WPLG-TV reported that the victims were the baby’s mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
“The Pasco County investigation has revealed Ernesto left the Miami-Dade County area about four-and-a-half hours before arriving at the location in Pasco County, and was only in this location minutes before fatally shooting himself,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
Police hope Caballeiro gave the baby to someone for safe keeping, since there was no car seat in the van when it was discovered at 12:27 p.m. Wednesday.
Nocco said earlier that one person told police he saw a blonde woman in the truck at one point Tuesday, according to the sheriff. But that turned out not to be the case.
“Further investigation suggests the reported female may have been someone who simply stopped to check on the vehicle after the incident occurred and was not directly involved in this case,” the sheriff’s office said Thursday.
Nocco said a pickaxe may also have been removed from the truck at one point. “If there is anybody who might have seen a pickaxe along the roadway, anywhere — a freshly dug site — let us know,” the sheriff urged.
Miami-Dade police said the bodies of the three women were discovered by a family member who went to check on them.
“The family member advised that a newborn infant which should have been at the home is now missing,” police said.
Detective Argemis Colome of the Miami-Dade Police Department told Patch that one hope is the child was turned over to a shelter, firehouse or hospital.
“That’s the hope we’re having right now aside from whatever investigative lead they may be following,” Colome acknowledged. “Who knows? He might have taken him to a smaller town, turns him in there and nobody knows what’s going on.”
To report a tip, call 911 or call Miami-Dade police at 305-471-2400.
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