YOUNGSTOWN Charges are dropped against third suspect in kidnapping

Prosecutor Paul Gains and Campbell police said the investigation is still open.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a third man suspected of helping to kidnap a Campbell woman and her family earlier this year.
The case remains open, though, and the charge could be refiled if more evidence is found, said Campbell police and Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul Gains.
Wilfrado Placeres, 42, of Tremble Avenue, Campbell, was indicted earlier this year on charges of conspiracy to kidnapping, conspiracy to attempted aggravated murder and four counts of kidnapping. Authorities had been unable to locate him for trial.
The kidnapping: The charges stem from the May 2 abduction of 25-year-old Maria Rosario Romano and her three children, ages 7, 4 and 2. They were abducted at gunpoint while getting into their minivan on 13th Street in Campbell. Romano was shot in the hip during the abduction.
The family was driven to an apartment building on Glenwood and held captive for some six hours before being released. The apartment is believed to have been where Placeres lived, said Detective Sgt. Manuel Darkadakis of the Campbell Police Department.
In court documents, prosecutors said they don't have enough evidence to meet their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt against Placeres, which is why they asked to drop the charges for now. Judge James C. Evans approved the request to dismiss the indictment.
"We've already had a jury acquit two people in this case because there wasn't enough evidence to get a conviction," Gains said. He's asked Campbell police to continue digging and report back when they find something new.
Joseph Gonzalez, 21, of Ninth Street, Campbell, and Jose Placeres, 29, of Glenwood Avenue, each faced charges identical to those lodged against Wilfrado Placeres. According to trial testimony, Jose Placeres is Wilfrado Placeres' nephew.
Lack of evidence: A jury found Gonzalez and Jose Placeres innocent, citing a lack of evidence. About a week after the trial ended, Wilfrado Placeres surrendered to Campbell police, Darkadakis said. Until then, he was believed to have been in Puerto Rico.
Wilfrado Placeres was arraigned Dec. 18 in Campbell Municipal Court and taken to the county jail to await trial. He was released Saturday because the charges were dropped.
"It's not a dead case," Darkadakis said. "The prosecutor's office just felt they would like to have a little bit more evidence."
He said police questioned Wilfrado Placeres and took his fingerprints last week, but declined to elaborate on what role he is believed to have played in the kidnapping and shooting.
Darkadakis said there is a fourth suspect in the case, though his name has not been released.
bjackson@vindy.com