'Accused had plans to demand ransom'

HYDERABAD/GUNTUR: The family members had some hope for the release of the child by the kidnapper after the Telugu associations and locals announced a massive reward of $50,000 for clues as to the whereabouts of the child. Ironically, the family of Siva Prasad delayed the cracking of the mystery behind the kidnap by withholding information about family disputes.
Police said that Raghu had in fact planned to murder Latha on the day of the kidnap but abducted the infant as Latha went to office. He, however, killed the infant's grandmother Satyavathamma, when she strongly resisted his criminal attempt. Initially, the family members and locals thought that kidnap could have been the handiwork of some Afro-Americans for the sake of ransom. However, FBI teams dug deep into the family disputes angle right from day-one as the abductor did not make any attempt to loot valuables from the house of Siva Prasad Reddy.
Surprisingly, FBI said the accused had been to Venna's home in the Marquis Apartments several times and had also lived in the apartment complex, which, however, was strongly denied by Latha when she spoke to newsmen.
Police said that the accused had kidnapped the baby with plans to hold her for ransom and police found several ransom notes inside the apartment. She said 10 copies of an identical ransom note were found, asking for $50,000. "Apparently he stuffed a handkerchief in Saanvi's mouth to keep her quiet, and she choked to death. Her body has been found. The accused had inflicted knife wounds on the baby," a police official said. The grandmother, 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna, had died of knife wounds to her neck and chest.