Oklahoma Horror: Boys Found in Crawl Space After Abduction by Cartel Impostor

A terrifying kidnapping case has shaken a local Oklahoma community after a man who allegedly claimed to be “from the Cartel” abducted two boys from a public park and hid them in a crawl space beneath his home, police say.

The suspect, identified as Richard Salgado, 34, was arrested Tuesday evening after a frantic search led police to a residence where the missing children, ages 6 and 8, were found alive but shaken, hidden in a dark, debris-filled crawl space.

According to the Tulsa Police Department, the two boys were playing at Riverside Park under the supervision of a relative when Salgado approached them, claiming he was a friend of their parents and offering to take them on an “adventure.” Witnesses told police that he appeared agitated and muttered something about “the Cartel” and needing to “protect the boys from enemies.”

When the children failed to return after several minutes, their family contacted authorities, triggering an immediate Amber Alert.

Police were able to track Salgado using a combination of witness tips, traffic cameras, and license plate recognition technology. When officers arrived at his South Tulsa residence, Salgado initially refused to cooperate but was taken into custody without incident after a brief standoff.

During the search of his property, officers found the children hidden in a makeshift crawl space under the house, described as cramped and unfit for habitation. The boys were frightened and dehydrated but otherwise unharmed. They have since been reunited with their family and are receiving trauma counselling.

Salgado is facing numerous charges, including:

• Two counts of kidnapping

• Child endangerment

• False imprisonment

• Impersonating a federal agent (due to his Cartel claim)

He is being held without bail pending a psychiatric evaluation. Authorities say he has a criminal record and a history of mental health issues.