Brit fugitive wanted over 'horrific' UK kidnap and murder is arrested in the Caribbean over separate child abduction claim
West Midlands Police said they believed Kevin Wooden had fled the country when they released a picture of him five years ago and put a £10,000 reward on the table as they appealed for information following the death in a specialist burns unit of Polish national Tomasz Samel.
The 45-year-old suffered 75 per cent burns after his abduction in March 2019 by two men posing as Interpol officers in hi-vis vests outside his home in Handsworth, Birmingham.
Later the same day he banged on the door of a property in Bickerstaffe, Lancashire after being dumped 100 miles away.
He died three months later on June 21 2019 at the nearby Whiston Hospital's Burns Unit, with cops leading the investigation at the time describing the attack as 'one of the most horrific' they had ever dealt with.
Yesterday police in the Dominican Republic revealed they had taken Wooden into custody after holding him on an international arrest warrant issued by Mexican authorities hunting him over the alleged kidnap of a minor.
The 45-year-old had been at the centre of a lengthy international manhunt after disappearing with his Colombian-born daughter Khadija Alexandria Alvarez Bonilla, now four, when she was just seven months old.
The youngster had last been seen near Guadalajara International Airport in Mexico on October 14 2021, prompting regional prosecutors to issue an appeal saying: 'We consider the girl's wellbeing is at risk' before Interpol got involved.
Khadija's mum Carolina Alvarez has made a series of emotional appeals over the past few years for information about her daughter's whereabouts.
The digital creator set up a Facebook page called 'Buscamos a Khadija' -'We're looking for Khadija' in English - where she described her ex as a 'violent person who has possibly committed crimes in other countries'.
Wooden was arrested in the Dominican Republic capital Santo Domingo. Local authorities say a Mexican woman was also held in the operation and three children 'rescued' although they have not yet confirmed one of them was Khadija.
The fugitive Brit is now expected to be extradited to Mexico to face trial. It was not immediately clear this morning if West Midlands Police have been officially informed about the arrest and whether they will try to have him extradited to the UK as well.
Confirming Wooden's detention, the Dominican Republic's National Police force said:
'The National Police, through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) in Santo Domingo, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor's Office and with the support of international agencies, captured a British citizen in the National District who was wanted by the Mexican judicial authorities for the crime of child abduction.
'The joint operation, which also involved the Department of Investigation of Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons, the Department of Investigation of Crimes and Offences Against Property and the SWAT tactical unit, was carried out under search and arrest warrant No. 2025-AJ0047965, issued on 23 July 2025 by the Judicial Office of Permanent Services of the National District.
'The detainee is Kevin Leon Wooden and/or Shaban Kuka, 45, who used false Mexican identity documents under the name Miguel Antonio Torres Hernández.
'The arrest took place on Roberto Pastoriza Avenue, at the corner of Abraham Lincoln, in the National District.
'Wooden is wanted on an INTERPOL Red Notice for international search and arrest, accused of 'child abduction,' in addition to having a criminal record for various offences in his country of origin.
'During the raid, carried out at a house in the Bella Vista neighbourhood, three children were rescued, and 41-year-old Mexican citizen Viviana Villarreal Cambero was also arrested.
'Several pieces of evidence were seized at the scene, including cash and valuable items of clothing.
'The operation was coordinated by Magistrate Olga Dina Llaverias, head of the National Directorate for Children, Adolescents and Families (DINNAF), together with Attorney General Shirley Aurich and Prosecutor Jose Martínez, both attached to the aforementioned directorate.'
Shortly after Mr Samel's death, lead investigator Detective Chief Inspector Anastasia Miller said as they appealed for information about Wooden and released an image of him: 'This was a shocking attack and certainly one of the most horrific in my professional experience.
'As we approach the anniversary of Mr Samel's kidnap, we have released an image of Kevin Wooden who we urgently want to speak to. We have reason to believe Wooden is currently out of the country and we are urgently appealing for anyone who has any information to contact us.
'Tomasz had been tortured and had received 75 per cent burns to his body. Despite being very ill he was able to knock on a door and seek help.
'We had spoken to Tomasz while he was in hospital but he was very unwell. We can't disclose what was said before he died. We've been working hard to understand exactly what happened on that day and why.
'We're keeping an open mind about the motive, and have been carrying out extensive enquiries since March. What we do know is that the van that used to abduct Tomasz had been at Hopwood Park Services in Bromsgrove earlier that day.
'CCTV shows the suspects buying a fluorescent tabard which we believe was then used to give the illusion that they were at his home on legitimate business.
'We believe the answer to this lies with the people in these images and I'd urge people to study these images very closely.'
Crimestoppers launched a £10,000 appeal for information in 2020, with the charity's regional manager Gary Murray saying at the time: 'This is a shocking and horrendous crime and we are appealing to anybody with any information to speak to our charity 100% anonymously.
'What you know could make all of the difference to help get justice for Tomasz who suffered for months before eventually dying from his severe injuries.'
West Midlands Police said in June 2022 a 44-year-old suspect had been arrested in Thessaloniki in Greece and would be liaising with Greek authorities and other agencies.
Reports at the time said a number of people had been held as part of the investigation but no one had yet been charged.
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