Family’s precious item stolen during string of robberies that led to kidnapping arrest

Money, jewelry and even medication were stolen during a burglary that investigators say is related to a kidnapping this week in Doa Ana County.

But there was one precious item the family is grateful to have back in there hands after the suspect’s arrest.

Juan Alvarez and Jessica Atencio had arrived at their home Anthony, Texas, when they noticed Juan’s motorcycle was missing.

“I asked him, ‘where’s your bike?'” Atencio said.

The couple eventually learned someone had broken into their home. Atencio said jewelry, money, and even her breast cancer medications were gone.

But nothing could prepare for what was missing from her drawer.

“That’s when I noticed my daughter’s ashes were missing. My jewelry’s missing, but my daughter’s ashes are missing. I explained what it was, what it looked like,” Atencio said.

The couple’s 15-year old daughter, Hope, died of heart complications a few years ago. Her ashes kept in this blue urn with a small heart in the front, often mistaken for a jewelry box.

“I broke down, you know, I opened my drawer and that’s the first thing I noticed,” she said. “I told my husband right away, my mom was here with me, some mutual friends are here, and I let them know, they took hope and that’s when everyone just jumped into gear. Everyone was determined to find this guy.”

Jessica immediately turned to the police and social media.

“I just got on Facebook and I asked all friends and family, please be on the lookout for my husband’s bike. He’s got my husband’s bike and my daughter’s ashes have to be with this guy.”

In only a matter of hours, their luck and chance, were back on their side.

“By 6, we got a call from mutual friends that they had spotted our bike that they were following him and the EPPD was involved. Then we got a call saying, we got the bike, the guy’s in custody, come around.

“They told us his name was Andrew Serna. And I said, are you kidding? The guy that’s wanted in Las Cruces for the kidnapping for the elderly lady? And they were like what?

El Paso Police confirmed that news for us, saying Andrew Serna was the man caught on the stolen motorcycle and with Hope’s ashes.

“You can tell here, they were trying to pry it open.”

“We’re just so relieved to have our daughter home, where she belongs.”

Most of the item’s were returned to the family, but they’re trying to retrieve jewelry that had allegedly been pawned by Serna.