Cozumel, Q.R. — An oral trial judge handed down a 100-year prison sentence for the kidnapping and torture of a Cozumel man. On Wednesday, Jorge Legaria Vargas was sentenced to a century in prison for aggravated kidnapping.
According to police, the kidnapping happened November 12, 2021, when Jorge Legaria Vargas went to the man’s home. He arrived at the house with another man and proceeded to make death threats while demanding money.
Legaria Vargas and his accomplice threatened to kill man’s wife and daughter while “demanding a million pesos from the victim while beating him with a firearm,” police said.
“Taking advantage of a moment of inattention from his captors, the man managed to escape from the house; however, Jorge Legaria Vargas and his accomplice pursued him until they caught up with him on 85 Bis Avenue where the physical assaults and demands for money continued,” they added.
A vehicle pulled up with five people inside who then kidnapped, forcing the victim into the vehicle.
“The perpetrators took the victim to a wooded area where Jorge Legaria Vargas tortured him until he lost consciousness, at which point the assailants abandoned him.” police said.
While the victim was being held captive, Jorge Legaria made a phone call to an indirect victim demanding one million pesos in exchange for his release.
The victim filed a report which lead to the arrest of Jorge Legaria Vargas. Police said the cell phone used to make the ransom demand was seized during his arrest.
