U.S. Marshals Recover Juvenile Victim in Kidnapping Arrest

Concord, NH – The United States Marshals Service District of New Hampshire (USMS D/NH) has announced the successful apprehension of fugitive Christopher Rodriguez, 40, yesterday afternoon on Route 28 near Wellington Road in Manchester. During the arrest, a missing 15-year-old juvenile from North Andover, Massachusetts-allegedly lured away by Rodriguez-was safely recovered.

The Londonderry Police Department requested assistance from the USMS New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force (NHTF) on August 16 after arrest warrants were issued for Rodriguez. The warrants were the result of further investigation into deceptive statements made by him during a police encounter on August 9. Rodriguez now faces charges, including kidnapping a juvenile, endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension or prosecution, obstructing government administration, amongst others.

Rodriguez was previously convicted of second-degree murder in a 1999 armed robbery in New York City. He was sentenced in 2000 and released from prison in July 2017. Authorities believe his involvement with the juvenile may date back to 2023.

Following yesterday’s arrest, Rodriguez was transported to the Londonderry Police Department, where he was booked and is awaiting a hearing. The juvenile has been safely returned to the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services by the North Andover Police Department.

The U.S. Marshals Service extends its appreciation to the Londonderry and North Andover Police Departments for their collaboration, as well as to the task force officers from the Strafford, Merrimack, and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Manchester and Nashua Police Departments, whose contributions were instrumental in the success of this operation.

The USMS New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force was formed in the fall of 2002 and is headquartered at the Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse in Concord. The task force coordinates federal, state, county, and local resources to develop leads, gather intelligence, track and apprehend targeted fugitives. The Task Force receives vital support from Strafford, Merrimack and Rockingham Counties, as well as the cities of Manchester, Nashua and Concord.