A San Antonio man and woman were abducted by two gunmen who broke into their home and “forcibly” removed them from the property while their five children watched.
Police were called to a home in the 3100 block of Mission Bell around 6 a.m. Wednesday and were told by the children that the suspects had fled in a white SUV.
Authorities have yet to identify the couple, but DailyMail.com has confirmed that the missing persons are Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga, 38, and Ricky Zuniga, 37.
A friend of the couple said the Texas parents were taken from their home at gunpoint in front of their children and there is no motive yet.
“We have no idea where they were taken and the police and FBI are investigating,” a friend wrote in a social media post Wednesday afternoon.
A San Antonio couple was abducted by gunmen who broke into their home and took them away while their five children watched. Pictured: Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga and Ricky Zuniga
Authorities have yet to identify the couple, but DailyMail.com has confirmed that the missing persons are Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga, 38, and Ricky Zuniga, 37.
Police were called to a home in the 3100 block of Mission Bell around 6 a.m. Wednesday and were told by the children that the suspects had fled in a white SUV.
According to local media, the children told police that the suspects were unknown.
The couple was only described by authorities as being in their thirties.
No description of the suspects was given in this case.
It was friends and relatives online who eventually identified Samantha and Ricky as the parents who had been kidnapped.
“Friends and family from San Antonio, my cousin Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga, and her husband Ricky Zuniga, were abducted from their home at gunpoint this morning in front of their children,” Mujer Fiera wrote in a message.
“Growing up, she was my neighbor and the person who nicknamed me ‘Honey’. I was part of the crew that welcomed her as a baby and made it my goal to be part of her care team,” Fiera continued.
The woman described Samantha as a “fierce young woman” who has raised five children in addition to her sister.
“She is an incredible survivor and I pray she can come home safely to her babies soon. Send love and prayers her way. I love you mya!’ the message stated.
“Man, if anyone knows ANYTHING let’s know no rest until these two Ricky and Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga get home!!!” wrote John Garcia Jr
Samantha and Ricky in a photo shared on Ricky’s Facebook account
On September 6, police are seen outside the home of the Zuniga family
In a Facebook post, another friend begged friends to watch out, asking for prayers and for God to watch over the couple.
“Man, if anyone knows ANYTHING let’s know no rest until these two Ricky and Samantha Esquivel-Zuniga get home!!!” wrote John Garcia Jr.
In that post, Garcia Jr. a photo of herself with the couple, along with an excerpt from a news report reporting the kidnapping.
“GOD, I have come to you less than a handful of times in my life for something I really loved or needed, but this here, PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON JESUS, watch over my brother and sister and just bring them home,” Garcia wrote.
The messages from both Garcia Jr. as Fiera have been inundated with comments praying for their safe return and asking who would do such a thing.
“God bring them home in the precious name of Jesus.”
“This is getting sadder, I hope they are found safe.”
“Praying for their safe return – so terrible and thinking of them and their children.”
A motive for the kidnapping has yet to be identified
This is the couple’s home in San Antonio where they were kidnapped
Property records show that the couple has been living in the house since 2016.
DailyMail.com reached out to the San Antonio Police Department for confirmation of the couple’s identity and for additional information on the case.
Authorities did not comment at the time of publication.