June 24, 2021 - The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department reports Detectives with the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department have made a kidnapping and domestic violence arrest in the abduction of a woman previously reported missing out of Patterson on June 22, 2021.  

Jose Munoz, a 34-year-old Newman resident, was believed to have been the last person seen with a woman who is the mother of his three children.  Patterson Police Services patrol deputies took the initial missing person’s report on Tuesday afternoon in the 500 block of Morning Glory Drive.  Reports indicated the woman’s coworkers, friends and family became increasingly concerned when the confidential victim did not show up for work.  She had not been heard from in the past five-days, either.  

The Sheriff’s Department Crimes Against Persons (CAP) Unit became aware of the investigation and began pursuing the case in hopes of safely finding their victim.  Through their investigative efforts, they were able to locate a vehicle associated with Munoz near the intersection of Church Lane and Atlantic Drive in unincorporated Modesto on Wednesday afternoon around 4 o’clock.  They were assisted by members of the Modesto Police Air Support Unit, the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), as well as their very own unmanned Air Support Unit.  

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted by investigators with SIU, at which time Munoz was safely taken into custody without incident.  The female domestic violence and kidnapping victim was found safe, aside from a few moderate superficial injuries not requiring immediate treatment.  Munoz was interviewed by detectives and later booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for kidnapping and domestic violence charges.  He is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.  Our victim was soon reunited with members of her family.

We would like to remind our community about the importance of using local victim referral resources.  They are available should people ever find themselves in a cycle or pattern of continued domestic violence.  

Our office works closely with the Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus, as well as the Stanislaus District Attorney’s Office Victim Services Division.  The 24-hour crisis line for the Haven is 209-577-5980.  Safe housing accommodations, information about court processes, as well as other victim resources like restraining orders, can be more thoroughly explained.  Our patrol deputies are always available to help when victims are prepared to make a law enforcement crime report, too. 

All arrested defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department