The Fresno County Sheriff's Office is now investigating the disappearance of Ryan Rodriquez as a kidnapping. Previously, it was a missing persons case. Wednesday night Rodriquez was found alive at a home near Highway 145 and North Avenue just outside of Kerman. The family living at the home says the victim was very dehydrated and hungry. Authorities say it appears he was kidnapped, trapped inside of a small room and held at gunpoint.
When Ryan Rodriquez showed up on Oscar Ventura's doorstep Wednesday night, he was cold, shaking and barefoot.
Oscar Ventura says, "I gave him some socks and shoes and a blanket."
The 32-year-old, who had been missing for 5 days, had a traumatic story to tell.
Ventura says, "He told me that they kidnapped him."
Ventura and his family listened as Rodriquez talked about three strange men who pulled up to his work site looking for a job. He claimed when he told them work was slow, they forced him into a van at gunpoint.
Ventura says, "They got a shotgun. They were just pointing it at him and then the other guy brought out another shotgun and they just took him."
What happened after that, and in the days following, remains a mystery. According to Rodriquez, his captors dropped him off about a mile away from Ventura's home.
"He told me that as long as his dad cooperated with them, he would be okay. If not, they were going to do something," says Ventura.
Rodriquez's disappearance is now being investigated as a kidnapping case.
Thursday, KSEE24 News reached out to Rodriquez's his family, but no luck. Meanwhile, the status of the $100,000 reward offered for Rodriquez's safe return is still unknown. Ventura says that's the last thing on his mind.
Ventura says, "I just feel good because he's alive. As long as he's good, you know he's okay, I don't need the reward."