Adam Matos, caught after Amber Alert, 4 dead bodies found – Ismael Santisteban safe
Pasco County sheriff’s deputies reported a child with autism missing and four bodies nearby while conducting a welfare check Thursday. The search immediately began as an Amber Alert was been issued for 4-year-old Ismael “Tristan” Santisteban, who was with 28-year-old Adam Matos.
SWAT teams surrounded a downtown Tampa hotel early Friday to arrest the suspect in a quadruple killing. The 4-year-old autistic boy believed to be the man’s son was found safe, Tampa police said.
Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor said the suspect was found in a room on the 18th floor of the Floridan Hotel in downtown Tampa. Castor said officials lured Matos out of the room, away from the four-year-old boy and into custody. Before making it to the hotel, Castor said Matos was spotted at different bus stops downtown. She said that Matos did not have a bus ticket on him when he was arrested, but investigators believe he may have been inquiring about one.
Sheriff Chris Nocco said Adam Matos was involved in a domestic incident at the home last week, but Matos was not there when deputies arrived. According to reports, the boy’s mother had made a call to 911 stating that Matos had put a knife to her neck. This incident was confirmed by neighbors.
The victims have not been identified yet. Nocco said they recently moved here from Pennsylvania.
“Our main concern is to get Tristan back and make sure he is safe because I can tell you right now we have grave concerns about him being with Adam,” Nocco said as the news originally broke on Thursday.
On his way to Hillsborough County Jail, Matos spoke out to Bay News 9 saying: “”I don’t have anything to say right now,” Matos began as the media circus closed in around him. “I love my son, I hope he is safe right now.”
When asked why he took his son, Matos said: “He’s my son.”
He was then directly asked if he killed the people in Hudson: “No.”
“Do you know who did?” he was asked. “I don’t know.”
Matos has only been charged with aggravated assault. He is expected to be extradited to Pasco County to face more charges as the murder investigation continues.
[…] remains jailed on $200,000 bond. As previously reported on The Dispatch, he was detained at a Tampa hotel with the 4-year-old boy. The Browns and Leonards […]