Bryan was abducted from Fort Myers, Florida on December 1, 2006. He and his mother, Maria de Fatima Ramos Dos Santos, were waiting with Maria's friend, Janice Duarte, at a bus stop when a woman drove up and asked for directions. She said she had been driving around for eight hours trying to find her mother's house. Maria, Bryan and Duarte got on the bus, but the woman followed the bus until they got off and asked again for help. Maria, Bryan and Duarte got into her car. The woman later let Duarte go. Shortly afterwards she demanded $500 and made threats to Maria. She said she was going to Tampa, Florida but not to tell the police this or she would harm the women's families. She added that if the police stopped the car, the women had to claim they already knew each other.

The abductor eventually dropped Maria and her friend off at the roadside near the Villagio housing development off Three Oaks Parkway in Estero, Florida. She told them they had to wait ten minutes before calling anyone, then she drove away with Bryan. Neither Bryan nor his abductor have been heard from again.

A sketch of the abductor, and an image of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) similar to the one she was driving, are posted below this case summary. The abductor is described as being Hispanic, between 28 and 30 years old, heavyset and approximately 5'4 tall, with straight black hair which was partially pinned up in a bun. She wore blue jeans and a black blouse or t-shirt, and spoke Spanish. She is believed to have been driving a black two-door 1998 to 2003 Ford Explorer Sport with older, peeling window tint. Maria stated there was a diaper bag and car seat in the SUV, indicating the abduction had been planned. The abductor should be considered to be armed and dangerous. During the kidnapping she made a telephone call to a Fort Myers business and left an answering machine message; you can listen to her voice at this link.

Authorities initially believed Bryan had been abducted by a woman who wanted a baby, perhaps one who had recently had a miscarriage or a stillbirth. However, within a few days investigators suggested another theory as to the motive for Bryan's abduction. His parents are illegal immigrants. They are from a village in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and human traffickers helped them move the United States. Maria and Bryan's father, Jurandir Gomes Costa, were supposed to make regular payments to the smugglers, but fell behind on the payments. Authorities theorized that Bryan was abducted in retaliation. Valter Coelho, an enforcer for a smuggling ring and an acquaintance of Maria's, was detained in connection with Bryan's abduction, but police could find no evidence to link him to the baby and he was deported to his native Brazil without being charged with anything. Bryan's parents admitted to their illegal status and to owing hundreds of dollars to the smugglers, but denied that this could be the reason their child was taken.

Bryan's disappearance remains unsolved and his kidnapper has never been identified. Authorities believe she may have been from South America or Mexico originally, or possibly a second-generation immigrant, and that English may be her first language, although she spoke Spanish during the abduction. Bryan's parents are still living in Florida and still searching for their son.

Left: Sketch of Bryan's abductor;
Right: SUV similar to the abduction vehicle