California kidnapping for ransom baffles missing woman's son

These undated mug photos released by the Vallejo Police Department shows suspects, top, left to right: Emmanuel Espinoza, Jalon Brown. Bottom, left to right: Larry Young, and Lovely Rauzol. On Friday July 1, 2016 the Vallejo Police Department received a report from John Babb, of San Francisco that his mother, Elvira Babb, of Vallejo was a victim of a kidnaping for ransom. Vallejo Police detectives developed sufficient information to obtain an arrest warrant for the primary suspect in this case. He has been identified as Emmanuel Espinoza of Stockton. Espinoza was located and arrested in the Sacramento area. Espinoza has not divulged the location of the victim. All four suspects were booked into the Solano County Jail on a charge of kidnapping for ransom. (Vallejo Police Department via AP) (The Associated Press)

John Babb speaks to reporters about his mother's disappearance as he is accompanied by his wife Rosie, during a news conference in Vallejo, Calif., Tuesday, July 12, 2016. Police are asking for the public's help in finding Elvira Babb who was kidnapped for ransom and remains missing even though four suspects have been arrested in the case. (AP Photo/Lisa Leff) (The Associated Press)

The son of a Northern California woman still missing after the arrests of four people suspected of kidnapping her says he is baffled why anyone would abduct his mother for ransom.

John Babb said at a news conference Tuesday in Vallejo (vuh-LAY-ho) that his mother, 57-year-old Elvira Babb, was bankrupt and neither he nor anyone in their family has the $60,000 that was demanded.

Elvira Babb was last seen June 29 by a co-worker who dropped her off at a Vallejo market. Her son received a text the next day demanding money and threatening his mother's life. An investigation led to the arrests.

Vallejo police Lt. Jeff Bassett says Elvira Babb knew one of the suspects scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday but declined to comment on her relationship to him.