Friday, October 26, 2012

Missing infant found dead, family friend arrested

This undated photo provided by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office shows Saanvi Venna. Authorities are searching for the 10-month-old girl, who disappeared after her grandmother was fatally beaten inside a suburban Philadelphia apartment. Police issued an Amber Alert for the Venna on Monday Oct. 22, 2012 following the discovery of her grandmother?s body at the Marquis Apartments in King of Prussia, Pa. (AP Photo/Montgomery County District Attorney's Office)

This undated photo provided by the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office shows Saanvi Venna. Authorities are searching for the 10-month-old girl, who disappeared after her grandmother was fatally beaten inside a suburban Philadelphia apartment. Police issued an Amber Alert for the Venna on Monday Oct. 22, 2012 following the discovery of her grandmother?s body at the Marquis Apartments in King of Prussia, Pa. (AP Photo/Montgomery County District Attorney's Office)

Satyavathi Venna holds her granddaughter, Saavni Venna, in this undated photo released by the Upper Merion (Pa.) Township Police Department. Police issued an Amber Alert for Saavni Venna on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 following the discovery of Satyavathi Venna's body at the Marquis Apartments in King of Prussia, Pa. Investigators did not immediately release details on the death of the girl's grandmother, 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna. (AP Photo/Upper Merion Township Police Department)

(AP) ? Authorities recovered the body of a 10-month-old girl not far from where her grandmother was slain and arrested a family friend who investigators said killed them in a botched ransom kidnapping.

Saanvi Venna's body was found around 4:30 a.m. Friday in the basement of a building in the same Upper Merion Township apartment complex where she lived. Investigators had been searching for her since Monday.

The family friend killed 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna while trying to abduct the girl, whom he planned to hold for ransom, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

"The grandmother died trying to save her granddaughter's life, trying to prevent her from being taken," Ferman said.

Ferman identified the suspect as Raghunandan Yandamuri, 26. He lives in the apartment complex and was acquainted with the family as a member of the Indian community.

Yandamuri was being arraigned Friday afternoon. It wasn't clear if he had an attorney.

Ten copies of a ransom note were left in the apartment. It demanded $50,000 in exchange for the girl's safe return, Ferman said.

"It was clear it was crafted by someone who knew the family nicknames," Ferman said.

Yandamuri led investigators to the girl's body, according to Ferman. He told investigators he stuffed a handkerchief into the girl's mouth and wrapped a towel around her head before putting her in a suitcase as part of the kidnapping, she said.

An autopsy was being conducted on the girl. Ferman said her body had been found under a bench in a sauna or bathroom area.

Upper Merion Township police say the girl's father and mother moved to the U.S. from India in February 2007 and into the apartment in June.

Ferman said there was no indication Yandamuri knew the family before they arrived in the area. He had participated in a candlelight vigil held for the missing girl and distributed fliers about her, Ferman said.

The grandmother had been visiting from India since July and was scheduled to return home in January. She died of cuts to her neck and chest, a coroner said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-26-Grandmother%20Killed-Missing%20Baby/id-68475bf0ad2345e9ae663189ad3616e6

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