2 Men kidnapped three people, threw them into the back of a van, killed two, and the other miraculously survived.
A Florida federal jury has convicted two men in a harrowing case of kidnapping and murder, where three victims were abducted, tortured, and shot—leaving two dead and one miraculously alive... Continue reading here ▶
The chilling crime, which began in Opa-Locka, a Miami suburb, has left a lasting scar on the community.
James Edward Daniels, 59, and Frederick Eugene Rudolph, 69, were found guilty on charges including conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death, multiple counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and kidnapping, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
The Crime: A Night of Terror
On December 5, 2020, Daniels, Rudolph, and accomplices targeted their victims at a truck yard in Opa-Locka. Prosecutors said the men threw the three victims into the back of a rented U-Haul van, duct-taped their eyes shut, tied them up, and tortured them over the course of several hours while stealing their drugs.
The suspects eventually drove to an abandoned house, where they attempted to execute the victims. Two of them, Osmar Oliva, 50, and Johan Gonzalez Quesada, 26, were fatally shot. The third victim, despite being critically injured, miraculously survived and was airlifted to a hospital. Authorities revealed that Daniels also stole jewelry from one of the victims.
Decades of Crime Catch Up
Daniels and Rudolph, who are no strangers to the criminal justice system, face up to life in prison when sentenced on March 10.
Their criminal histories paint a picture of long-standing lawlessness. Daniels’ incarceration record spans 40 years, while Rudolph was on probation for a drug-related charge at the time of the murders.
In a related development, both men were previously indicted on unrelated drug distribution charges in July 2022. Rudolph received an 11-year prison sentence earlier this year, and Daniels was sentenced to 35 months.
A Third Accomplice Pleads Guilty
A third accomplice, 56-year-old Herbert Barr, pleaded guilty to kidnapping on November 26. His sentencing details have not yet been announced.
