Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Mom Kidnaps Own Son, Rams Car into Police Cruiser

Episode Date: March 30, 2025

Angelique Sanchez took off with her son in 2024 which led police in New Mexico to issue an Amber Alert for the 10-year-old boy. Sanchez did not have custody of the boy at the time because she was struggling with addiction. She rammed a police cruiser and was later interviewed by police. She pleaded guilty earlier this year. Law&Crime’s Angenette Levy goes through the body camera and interview footage in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: If you or someone you know have been diagnosed with bladder cancer or other cancers after prolonged exposure of hair color, visit https://forthepeople.com/hair to submit a claim in 8 clicks or less!Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5CRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondery Plus subscribers can binge all episodes of this law and crimes series ad-free right now. Join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. If I'm never going to see him again, that's your blood, that's your everything. This mother will move mountains to protect her child, but her logic holds no defense in the eyes of the law. Okay, so you understand that you don't have to talk to us if you don't want to. Okay. Okay, but you're willing to give us a statement? Well, I could. Yeah, my son means the world to me.

I dive into the interrogation of Angelique Sanchez and tell you what happened with her case. Welcome to Crime Fix. I'm Anjanette Levy. And just a quick note, you can now watch and listen to Crime Fix on Spotify. So check us out. A non-custodial mother abducts her own biological son, triggering an Amber Alert in New Mexico when she fails to return him to his legal guardians. It sounds a little convoluted, but bear with me. 39-year-old Angelique Sanchez had lost custody of her son because she was struggling with addiction, but she was allowed to visit with him. A family member had temporary custody of the boy until Angelique got the help that she needed and could properly care for him. According to police, someone spotted the young boy

with Sanchez at the New Mexico Human Services Building. But when an officer tried to approach them, Sanchez rammed into a patrol car, fleeing the scene. Now, this is really, really not the way to handle something like this. NMSP decided against chasing Sanchez's car since a child was in the vehicle. That could be really, really dangerous and it could escalate the situation. But the investigation moved forward, starting with some patrolmen canvassing a neighborhood where Angelique Sanchez was believed to be staying. So I'm Agent Brandon Gonzalez, state police, bro. So we're actually here looking for a kid.

I don't know if you heard of that kid that's missing. No? You didn't get anything on your phone no like amber alert or anything like that i got it last night yeah so that's the same kid we're looking for so we know that they were here in the area yesterday bro nobody's home who lives there so anyway that's what we're doing bro we're looking for this kid seeing if anybody has information on this kid so um honestly when it comes to kids it's pretty serious right so you guys just going door to door asking

yeah bro that's that's what we're doing because that's what we got to do right now police speak to many neighbors with most providing little to no information of any value until one resident reviews surveillance footage that proves invaluable to the investigation maybe what do you think brandon check it out real quick yep newer model looks like her car yeah are you able to like zoom in like in that little corner right there what What you want to please. No, no. Which I was on it to 46, which is consistent because that lady had a white car at 2 45 and then around 2 52 it comes back this way. Police end up

recovering the Hyundai Sonata, but the mother and son, they're still missing. It was the car in the Amber Alert. It was just found right back there. You're kidding. Nope. Oh, my gosh. So, I wanted to show you. That's weird. Which is why we're trying to find out who these individuals are and if you knew them.

I've never. Oh, my God. That's mind-blowing. There was... Yeah, there's... I don't know who lives back there, but like even a couple... I mean, this is totally unrelated, but a couple weeks ago, they were just doing donuts in a red car back there. I was...

Yeah. Like at 11 at night, and I'm like, I'm trying to get to work tomorrow. Like, who the hell? I've never seen her. I mean, I can ask my kids. I don't think we've ever seen her around here, actually. And today, nothing suspicious or anything? I didn't hear anything.

I've been home. Two days later, police tracked down the missing mother and son duo in the same neighborhood in Albuquerque. remain silent anything say can will be against you in the court of law you have the right to have an attorney present you can't afford an attorney provided for you at government expense okay at any time if you want to consult with an attorney during questioning you may do so at any time if you want to stop answering questions you may do so as well okay um everything i've just told you makes sense to you yeah okay in your own In your own words, what's an attorney? A lawyer. Okay. And what does that person do for you? Help me.

Okay. So I need an attorney. Okay. Yeah, so is there any reason why you reach out to law enforcement? Because, I mean, your guys' pictures have been everywhere, right? My mom said that I was going to get an attorney first. To get an attorney first. Okay. Okay.

But you don't think that's something, like, law enforcement should have, like, been told about? Like, at least, like, giving us, like, a heads up? Like, hey, look, I have my son. Yeah, that's what I wanted to do. I was scared, too, at the same time. I didn't know how to go about it. Now, Angelique, she's rationalizing what she's done, trying to say that it was okay, essentially kidnapping her own child.

But the patrol officer explains how this whole incident could have been avoided. It would have just helped us a lot if we hadn't been running rampant for the past three days. We just wanted to make sure that he was safe for the most part. Okay. Okay. Is there anything that you know that he needs right now, like medical attention? Does he need food? Does he need water?

We just drink water and juice. This is a Morgan & Morgan legal alert. Emerging reports reveal that hair color products may not come with clear warnings about potential health risks. If you or someone you know frequently handles hair color chemicals and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer or other cancers, Morgan & Morgan is here to fight on your behalf. Scan the QR code on your screen or go to ForThePeople.com slash hair to start a claim now. The Amber Alert was canceled when police secured the 10-year-old boy. They found him safe on the scene. Right now, we're just going to go ahead and place you into

handcuffs just off of detainment for now, okay? Thank you. Can you give this one to his phone? Yeah. That's his phone? Okay. How are you doing there, Angelique? I'm sad. I don't want my baby. Are You okay? We'll get all that stuff figured out. Is it double locked? Yeah, I got it right here. It's okay. So once we get a marked patrol unit here that has a cage, we'll sit you in the back.

That way you can be out of the sun and stuff. Or detained. I'm gonna have you come over here Angelique. To the left, to the left. Over here, this way, this way. Yeah, I'm gonna have you come over here. We going to have you just sit down right here, okay? Just for now, okay? I love you, baby. Is that your hito right there? I love you.

Okay. You want to sit down or you want to stand up? I stand up. Police drive Angelique to the police station for questioning. You've been Mirandaized. Do you understand your Miranda rights? Yes. Okay, so you understand that you don't have to talk to us if you don't want to. Okay. Okay, but you're willing to give us a statement?

Well, my son means the world to me. I understand that. I understand. What is it for? It's for him, right? Absolutely. Okay. Investigators start off by trying to clarify the custody situation.

You took the child and you wouldn't return the child? Oh, okay. That's not true. Well, okay. I took him. I didn't take him back. What's your understanding about the custody agreement? Okay, the judge said it's up to her pardon.

When she gives him back is when I can have him back. That's what it says on the paper. Okay, now the paper says that you and your husband or you and the child's father have your rights suspended right now, temporary suspended. That's what the paperwork says. Where did you get the fact that you think that the judge says? Because the last paper we got from the judge, I said, am I ever going to be able to have a family? That's up to her partner, and she said that's up to... So there was no written agreement.

The judge has said it's up to her. And then there was a paperwork that we got from the judge because it was over the pandemic. So everything was over the phone. Now, Angelique goes into detail about how her son had been staying with her for long periods of time, sometimes the entire summer, since 2022. And during the past visit, her son, she says, confided in her, sharing that he was being abused, making him scared to go back. When he's there with me a long time, he doesn't want to go back, you know, and it's hard to give him back because he's my son, you know, and it's hard to give him back. He said, Mom, can I stay with you? Can I? Is it OK?

And she goes, no, no, no. All of a sudden he said, no, don't take me back. And she said she's not because I turned the phone. She goes, Angelique, when you give him back. Because I was late to giving him back. I'm not going to ever let you. This was the last time? Yes.

She says. What date? It was the day before they did the little alert thing or whichever. She goes, when you bring him back, I'm never going to let you see him again. I said, why would you tell me that? You know? Why would you tell me I never could see him again? Did she tell you that on the phone? Yes. On the phone again. I said, why would you tell me that? You know, why would you tell me I never could see him again? Did she tell you on the phone?

Yes. On the phone. And I said, what? And me and him looked at each other and we're like, no, you know, like we just, that's why. Other than that, I would have in a heartbeat, you know. Now, it's clear that Angelique held a grudge because she just confessed she committed this act out of spite. But the investigator reminds her about the real reason why her son was taken out of her custody. Be fair. There were stipulations you needed to get help.

Oh, yeah, you're right. So let's be fair. Let's be honest here. Let's don't make stories up, okay? That wasn't a story. According to the paperwork that I read, you were supposed to do some stipulations, drug testing classes, correct? The courts just don't take your child away from you. There was something you did wrong. I didn't go to the wedding one of the right I didn't get it was a guardian and eat them I guess I know it's not

because you didn't get a lawyer it's the fact you didn't show up to for some parents and you didn't do what the courts asked you to do is that correct there was one that I didn't get a hair follicle test okay drug test yes I guess it's so you're apable in this too, right? Yes. So he stayed with her for five years. She was a good guardian. She was good.

Well, according to... And then maybe she thought you got cleaned up and then you started seeing the child. No, she had her child. Oh, okay. So she was overwhelmed. Yeah. Okay.

And no one's saying you're a bad mom. I mean, I'm sure he wants to be with you. Yes. Okay? It's just the fact when the courts say no, the police say no to you. Oh, okay. Do you understand that? No, I do. No, no. Did you understand that before, too?

No. Then why were you running? Oh, because he told me he didn't want me to give him back to you. He goes, wait until we get a lawyer, Mom, because they understand that she hits me, you know, and he wants to. So when he said she hits me you immediately called see wife dear call police i reported i should have called him important why didn't you um because i wanted to talk to a lawyer first because the lawyer would have done what protected your child yeah i thought so no you need to do you needed if that was true which it isn't

true and i think you know that it's not true do you really think that you're beating your child honestly let's be honest yes really yes really and why do you think that because he don't like okay you don't like and you've taught him not to lie I don't know do you like no the investigator uses that against her and buckles down for the truth. You don't lie? No, I'm not lying to you. Do you have a drug problem? Yes.

Okay, how long have you had a drug problem? Since I was, let's see, 26. Okay. Do you hang out with people with drug problems? Today? No. No, no, no, that's not what I said. You're putting words in there. Today?

No, I said do you hang out with people with drug problems? Yes. Do you take your child around people that have drug problems? I don't want to talk to them anymore. You don't want to talk anymore? No, because I don't want it to affect my life in any way, any manner. Okay. Then I'll stop talking.

Sorry. Can I do this? There's nothing you're going to do to help me, right? The thing is that we have everybody else decided story except for years okay okay I don't know why you would stop talking to me it sounds like you were gonna start admitting we talked about the truth you're gonna be truthful to us right yeah and then for some reason you don't want to talk anymore because I think it's gonna affect me is your statement affect you

yeah well you know what your rights are. If you think you're going to incriminate yourself. No. I mean, we're not dumb. These are investigators. I'm an investigator. We know your history. We know what you did.

It's not disputed. We want to get your side of the story. It helps. And my side of the story is I'm trying to fight for my son. That's my side of the story. I'm trying to have him with me. That's why I went to the domestic violence shelter, so that I can get everything organized and structured for him.

They would help me get it together there. They said that there's even a 10-day program where you can go to methadone and you can go through a treatment thing, and then they get you housing, and we would be together. That's what I was trying to do. So I wanted to get it structured. I went and sent my house in Peña Blanca, and it was trashed. It was demolished.

They stole everything that was livable, pretty much, and I couldn't live there. So I was trying to find someplace stable and structured for my son is what I was trying to do. And it didn't work. You know, I couldn't find it. And I told my son, it's about time. We're going to have to call him and tell him that I have to turn you in, Kay. But he didn't want to let go. You know, and it was so hard for me to.

And I'm letting him run my life pretty much kind of because I'm telling him it's time. He's, no, no, no. You know, and I should have been more of an adult and said, you know, this is the case. And we have to. But I was so scared. And I didn't want to lose him, you know, and I should have been more of an adult and said, you know, this is the case, and we have to, but I was so scared, and I didn't want to lose him, you know. I didn't want to, I didn't want to lose him. That's, that's, that's the whole purpose of, I want to make him my, and make him everything a part of me, and it's just, it's hard to do it alone, you know. It's hard to do it alone. It's, you can't do it alone if you need help, you know. Eventually, the truth starts to come out. So you guys were there at Richard's the whole time?

Yeah. So how did you guys eat? How were you guys getting food? Richard. Oh, Richard? Yeah. Oh, okay. Do you know, what kind of vehicle does Richard have? A little truck, a red truck.

Yeah, okay. He was going to charge me $300 of rent for a room, and we were going to start doing good stuff, you know, and he was going to help me with him. He was going to take me to a, like, a detox program, and then he was going to help me with my son, so he's all dropped him, and I was like, you promised. He's like, yes, and he's one of a good friend for a long time, so he's like, yeah, I said, but I'm marrying you, dude, so don't ever think, you know, don't think that he's stupid, but he very structured he doesn't drink he don't do nothing and he's like my dad yeah my dad was alive so um i really was comfortable around him so we he he

always messes with my son and says uh and he says you better you better listen to your mom do you need to straighten up like because if he's not listening he tells him do you want me to straighten you up you know but he's a really good man police then go to this man she was with he's not listening, he tells him, do you want me to straighten you up? But he's a really good man. Police then go to this man she was with. He's named Richard to corroborate the story. How are you doing, sir? How are you doing? I'm Agent Donnis with the state police. I didn't do it. No, no.

I didn't do it. You're good, sir. You're good. Are you aware of the Amber Alert that went out Monday? It was a few days ago. A mother and a missing child okay um does anybody else stay here with you no no has anybody like been visiting you or anything like that a friend of mine but she already left okay what's her what's her name i'm 10 42 have a good night man i call her angie i don't know. Angie? Okay. And she had a, did she have somebody else?

A little boy. A little boy? Okay. So it turns out we actually made contact with them and we spoke with them that they're the mother and the child involved in the Amber Alert that we had on Monday. Okay. It's unclear what time Richard was questioned, but it is clear he believed that he was helping a friend in need. So they stayed here in like one of your bedrooms and in the living room? My house is a one and a half. He believed that he was helping a friend in need. with her mom or something is that what she said that's what she told me okay she said that like

i'm having issues with my mom she was my mom and you know i don't have to i don't have no problem if you could describe like how she is like as a person like is she somebody that goes and gets in trouble frequently or not really not really i don't think so you don't think so i don't think she's like that okay has she ever mentioned like what the situation is between like her and her child? No. I mean, I mean, they're like glue. In the time that they were there, they're like glue. Even when she goes to the bathroom, he goes to the bathroom, you know. OK. How did she treat him?

Oh, God. Huh? Real lovable. Oh, no. He's like a multi-party and then he's healthy. He seemed... He's real happy. He's like real happy. After the interrogation, Angelique was arrested for multiple charges for crimes committed over the three-day manhunt. An officer wrote in the criminal complaint, Ms. Sanchez entered the

vehicle through the passenger side door and placed the vehicle in drive. I gave commands to stop. I observed the boy was missing slash endangered. The boy stated, don't take me away from my mommy. The boy was unbelted and standing in his vehicle. Ms. Sanchez intentionally rammed the front of my NMSP unit with her vehicle while the child was unrestrained. Ms. Sanchez placed the vehicle in reverse, crashed into a concrete bench. I attempted to open the front driver's side door to extract Ms. Sanchez, but there was no door handle. Using my NMSP-issued baton, I broke the front driver's side vehicle window and the door opened. Ms. Sanchez reversed the vehicle. I was in immediate fear that Ms. Sanchez was going to run me over. Ms. Sanchez reversed and nearly ran me over with the driver's side tires. Ms. Sanchez fled the

scene at a high rate of speed. One other NMSP officer arrived in a fully marked NMSP unit with emergency lights activated and Ms. Sanchez fled from him. APD officers arrived on scene and stated the vehicle was westbound on Manal in the eastbound lanes of travel. Wrong direction. Angelique recently accepted a plea deal back in January. She pleaded no contest to child abuse and aggravated assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. The rest of her charges were dropped. She will spend one year in the Metropolitan Detention Center, that's the jail, and then five years on probation. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Anjanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. I'll see you back here next time.