Dateline NBC episode Farm explored the horrific kidnapping of Mexican businessman Eduardo Valseca on June 13, 2007. The incident moved his entire family, especially his ailing wife Jayne Valseca (who was then battling stage four breast cancer).

On the day of the incident, Eduardo had just dropped his children off at school when he was kidnapped by a gang of armed men. They held him captive for seven months and he was later released after the family paid an undisclosed ransom.

Jayne was undergoing treatment at this time, and after Eduardo’s release, the family moved to Washington DC. Sadly, Jayne died of cancer on May 3, 2012. The official synopsis of Farm read:

“The lives of the Valseca brothers change when their father is taken hostage in an orchestrated kidnapping.” It originally aired on March 20, 2020.”

What happened to Eduardo and Jayne Valseca?

On the morning of June 13, 2007, Eduardo and Jayne Valseca were returning home in their car after dropping off their children at the institution they co-founded, the Waldorf School. Just when they got home, they found five unidentified cars parked near their property.

The strangers suddenly attacked the couple and moved them to an SUV. After that, they moved to another location where they switched cars again and took Eduardo, leaving Jayne behind in the middle of the highway.

The kidnappers held him captive for almost seven months. He was continuously tortured by them while locked in a small box. Conformable CNNhe was mercilessly beaten and even shot twice when an $8 million ransom went unpaid.

However, he was released on 24 January 2008 after a reduced ransom was agreed. The Federal Investigation Agency (Agencia de Federal Investigacion or AFI) was involved in the rescue operation. As a result of this horrifying experience, the family moved to the state of Maryland (Jayne’s birthplace).

As reported The date lineJayne’s cancer worsened in May 2012 and doctors declared it terminal. Sadly, she breathed her last on May 3, 2012, leaving the entire family devastated. Eduardo currently lives in a suburb of Washington DC with their children.

What was the reason behind Eduardo’s kidnapping?

Eduardo Valseca was the son of the famous newspaper magnate and sports promoter Jose Garcia Valseca. He was the founder of 37 newspapers in Mexico under his initiative called Garcia-Valseca Chain.

Jayne and Eduardo met in 1992 and their romantic relationship grew even more. The couple married on July 9, 1994, and together they started a business that primarily worked on tearing down houses and renovating them.

The date line correspondent Keith Morrison said in a statement:

“They built a real ranch among the mesquite trees and surrounded it with large gates and outbuildings, a garden for her, a riding ring, and good Spanish horses for him.”

They even donated part of the farm and co-founded Waldorf schools. They used to drive their three children Nayah, Emiliano and Fernando to the same institution.

Because of Eduardo’s rich background and his father’s fame as a businessman, he was kidnapped by a group of strangers. Money was the main motive behind the orchestrated kidnapping and a ransom of $8 million was demanded from the family.

Did the kidnappers torture Eduardo?

As reported SportskeedaThe kidnappers reportedly locked Eduardo in a small wooden box 80 inches long, 70 inches high and 20 inches wide. It was built on a concrete wall.

Eduardo was left with a bucket as a makeshift toilet and all he had to eat were eggshells, chicken bones and other scraps. The cage was lit by a light bulb and loud music was always played to prevent it from working properly.

According to CNN, he was also beaten at times. The kidnappers even shot Eduardo twice (once in a leg and the next time in an arm) when the ransom amount was not agreed upon.

The unfortunate incident shattered the entire family. After Eduardo’s release, they all moved to the United States and started a new life. Shortly thereafter, misfortune struck again when Jayne lost her battle with cancer.

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