'America's Most Wanted' Season 27: Where are Luis Sr and Andrea Vanessa Ramirez now? Arizona couple kidnapped their own children
TUCSON, ARIZONA: 'America's Most Wanted' Season 27 is set to release on Fox on January 22 at 9 pm ET. This time around, the show will be hosted by John Walsh and his son Callahan Walsh. The premiere episode will focus on the abduction case of the Tucson siblings - the then 5-year-old Luis Ramirez and his sister Kahmila Ramirez, who was barely six months old. They were reportedly abducted by their non-custodial criminal parents Luis Sr, now 36 years old, and Andrea Vanessa Ramirez, now 34. They were abducted from a park in Tucson, Arizona on May 4, 2018.
The US Marshals suspected that Luis Sr and Andrea Ramirez were hiding in Mexico with their two kidnapped children. Police found the couple's 1996 Toyota Camry in Nogales, parked near the Mexico border. Both Luis and Andrea Ramirez had been convicted of sex crimes they committed and were also wanted for aggravated assault, kidnapping, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. There was a thorough investigation of the fugitives and missing children but it hadn't yet yielded results. Both suspects were considered dangerous, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety. After they eloped to Mexico, the investigators even worked with Mexico officials to find the couple and the children. Police were 'extremely concerned' for the safety of the children because of the couple's charges and display of violence.
The case garnered national attention as the story was featured on REELZ's 'On Patrol Live' and 'In Pursuit with John Walsh'. Callahan Walsh, an advocate of children's rights, is now hopeful of finding the fugitives as this show will get global attention. This time, they have collaborated with The National Centre For Missing Kids and Exploited Children or NCMEC to ask the global audience and viewers to help them look for the missing children.
Who are Luis and Kahmila Ramirez?
Luis Ramirez, now 12, and Kahmila Ramirez, now 6, are the children of the accused couple Luis Sr and Andrea Ramirez. Luis was just 5 years old and Kahmila was just six months old when they were kidnapped by their criminal parents from the park in Tucson, Arizona. As Luis Sr and Andrea Vanessa Ramirez lost the custody of their children due to criminal cases charged against them, the custody lies with their aunt Erika Ramirez, who is hopeful for their safe return.
The age-progressed picture was released by NCMEC to help the public to locate the children easily. Luis Ramirez was last seen wearing a gray and white striped polo shirt and khaki pants. Kahmila was last seen wearing a onesie with yellow ruffles.
Luis Sr and Andrea Vanessa Ramirez were charged with 20 counts of sexual exploitation
The Pima County Attorney's Office had issued an arrest warrant for Luis Sr and Andrea Vanessa Ramirez as they were convicted of sexual exploitation of a 12-year-old. Luis Ramirez and Vanessa Ramirez took nude and lingerie photos of her and paid her money, gifts, and alcohol. Luis even molested her and exposed himself to her. The Ramirez couple were convicted on 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of child abuse.
Luis Ramirez was also convicted of child molestation, indecent exposure, and luring minors for sexual exploitation. They failed to appear in court. The custody of their children was taken away from them and given to some trusted agency. Police have also confirmed that the charges are not related to the couple's children. The charges related to them are for crimes committed from August 2013 to July 2016, according to the indictment, per The Arizona Republic.
According to KVOA News, in May 2019, Erika and her husband David Ramirez went to the court to hear the verdict of the fugitive Ramirez couple. David Ramirez remarked, “It’s really difficult for the family, both sides of the family, for the victim, having to go through that pain and suffering. We hope that maybe it puts more pressure on finding them and, hopefully, puts them on a priority list. Again, our concern is the well-being of the kids.”
Luis Sr and Andrea Vanessa assaulted a social worker on May 4, 2018
The Ramirez couple is wanted by the US Marshals not just for molestation charges but also for 'aggravated assault and unlawful flight to avoid persecution'. The police confirmed that on May 4, 2018, the sought-after couple assaulted a social worker during a supervised visit at Silverlake Park in Tucson, Arizona. The assault reportedly involved duct taping and tasering the worker. They slammed the worker against a tree and tied the person to the tree. After that, they swiftly eloped with their children, Luis and Kahmila.
Where to watch 'America's Most Wanted' Season 27?
'America's Most Wanted' Season 27 will air on January 22, 2024 on Fox at 9 pm ET/PT. Fox is finally returning with the OG host John Walsh and his son Callahan Walsh after a wait of nine long years.
If you miss the broadcast, you can easily watch the show on Hulu the next day. Hulu offers a basic plan starting from $7.99/month with ads and $17.99/month for an ad-free version.