Texas Man with $1 Million Kidnapping Warrant Apprehended in De Beque After Multi-Agency Manhunt

A Texas man was arrested at a De Beque gas station on a $1 million kidnapping warrant. An abducted 15-year-old girl from Idaho was safely recovered.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 5:47 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from KJCT 8 Grand Junction and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office.

Interstate Tracking and AMBER Alert

The incident sparked an immediate multi-state response after Idaho State Police issued an AMBER Alert for 15 year old Delia, who was reported taken from her home in Jerome, Idaho, on Monday evening. Investigative data suggested the suspect, Francisco Vargas Pegueros, was traveling through Utah and into Colorado in a black 2007 GMC Yukon with Texas license plates. Law enforcement agencies across the region were placed on high alert as the vehicle moved eastward.

The Apprehension in De Beque

Just before 11:00 p.m. on March 9, 2026, deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office spotted the suspect vehicle at a gas station in De Beque. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving the Colorado State Patrol, the De Beque Marshals, and Garfield County deputies. Authorities were able to take Pegueros into custody without incident, and the underage girl was safely recovered from the vehicle.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Pegueros was transported to the Mesa County Detention Facility, where he is being held on a $1 million cash-only warrant for second degree kidnapping issued by the Jerome Police Department. In addition to the kidnapping charge, the multi-jurisdictional investigation is looking into the circumstances of the abduction. While the victim has been reunited with safety services, Pegueros remains in custody awaiting extradition to Idaho to face formal prosecution.