Second Teen Charged in Kidnapping of Wheaton College Student

A second person - a 17-year-old Elgin boy -- has been charged in connection with the kidnapping of a Wheaton College student that occurred outside a Starbucks in Glen Ellyn last month.

The teen, who has been charged as a juvenile and is not being identified because of his age, is one of three accused of plucking a 21-year-old man off a Glen Ellyn street, holding him at gunpoint in an SUV, and forcing him to use his ATM card to drain his bank account. The 17-year-old was arrested Tuesday and has been charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of armed robbery, according to the Daily Herald.

Prosecutors have filed a motion to have the teen tried as an adult.

The student was taken on the morning of Friday, Aug. 26, as he left a Starbucks. Two men rushed him, told him they'd shoot him, and forced him into a SUV, police said.

"He had just left Starbucks with a cup of coffee in his hand," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin at a press conference outside the courthouse.

The trio drove the student to various banks in Glen Ellyn and in Chicago, taking $1,600 from him, then dropped him on a Chicago street. The thieves left the student with $20 and his iPhone, police said, at about 11 a.m. Saturday.

Abeet Ramos, 18, of South Elgin, has been charged with kidnapping, armed robbery and unlawful restraint in connection with the incident. Police said he was the driver of the car. His bail was set Friday at $3 million.

A third man, Jeremy Jones of Chicago,is still on the loose and police are asking for the public’s help to track him down, according to the Daily Herald. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to his arrest. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers at 630-469-1187.

Ramos was tracked down after police reviewed security-camera footage and identified his vehicle, police said. Ramos also took the student's Colorado Rockies baseball cap and wore the hat during the crime, police said, and he could be seen on video wearing the cap.

Glen Ellyn Police Chief Phillip North said the kidnappers forced the victim to disable the tracking device on his iPhone.

Wheaton College released a statement Friday.

"The Glen Ellyn Police Department believes that this student was the victim of a random attack and does not believe there is an ongoing threat to the campus community. We are thankful the student was not physically harmed and are committed to his ongoing support needs. The Wheaton College Department of Public Safety has been working closely with the Glen Ellyn Police Department to assist in their investigation. To avoid compromising the investigation, the Glen Ellyn Police Department requested that the College wait to inform the campus community until an arrest had been made."

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