Equestrians find woman in a Richland park who said she’d been kidnapped
Horseback riders made a surprising discovery on a Sunday ride through a Richland park — a woman fleeing from her ex-boyfriend.
The woman told the riders she’d been held against her will since July 4.
She was found walking on a dirt road on the south side W.E. Johnson Park, Richland police said in a Facebook post.
That started a multi-day search for Alejandro Jauregui, 41, who was believed to be hiding in the park’s thick brush and trees along the Yakima River floodplain.
The 236-acre natural area is off West Van Giesen Street, near West Richland, and features a network of trails popular with hikers, equestrians, bikers and bird watchers.
Richland police said Jauregui evaded officers until Monday. That’s when he was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment and attempted violation of a court order.
Officials said he was arrested at a home in the 300 block of Wright Avenue on Monday, Richland police said.
His arrest ends weeks of searching for Jauregui in connection with other alleged kidnapping, assault and protection order violations, according to the Benton County jail roster.
Investigators said those crimes involved Jauregui’s ex-girlfriend, the same woman the riders found.
Alleged domestic violence history
Jauregui faces six charges in Benton County District Court including domestic violence assault. They all appear to involve the same woman.
The first case was filed in April after he allegedly put his ex-girlfriend into a choke hold four times after she forgot her EBT card, according to court documents.
“It wasn’t that bad this time. He has done it before to the point where I soil myself,” she told investigators.
She told police that he continued to strangle and hit her until she got free and found help as some nearby apartments.
While he was arrested on a 72-hour-hold, no charges were filed and he was released from jail.
It’s not clear if the case was refiled in Benton County District Court, but he was charged with assaulting the same woman and stealing from her.
A protection order was issued aimed at keeping him away from her.
That didn’t stop him from allegedly forcing her into a vehicle on June 15 after finding her at a friend’s house. He allegedly hit her with a screwdriver handle.
He then allegedly had her drive to a Stevens Drive gas station. When they stopped to get gas, she went into the bathroom with the aim to get help.
Jauregui was allegedly waiting for her outside but she was able to get back into the store, where she hid behind a counter and asked the clerk to use her phone.
He then allegedly came back into the store, grabbed her from behind the counter and pulled her up. But he left when she said she called police, said court documents.
Prosecutors charged him with violating the protection order on June 30 and an arrest warrant with $50,000 bail was issued.
He is now also facing three 72-hour holds in connection with the new crimes.
This story was originally published July 9, 2025 at 12:57 PM.