Chicago Mother Shares Son’s Harrowing Near-Kidnapping on East Side

A Chicago mother is warning families after her 12-year-old son was nearly kidnapped on the city’s East Side over Mother’s Day weekend, with part of the frightening encounter captured on camera.

Rebecca Cuevas said the incident occurred on Saturday around 7:30 p.m. near the East Side Little League Baseball Field as her son was riding his bike. She described how the boy noticed a white minivan with tinted windows and no license plates following him around the block.

“When he reached about the corner, that’s when the van decided they were going to hop the curb, completely preventing him from even trying to go forward, and then signaled for him to come towards him,” Cuevas recounted. Her son, scared but prepared, dropped his bike, ready to fight or run for his life if necessary.

The boy managed to escape thanks to a quick-thinking bystander who ran toward him and pretended to be his father, causing the van to drive off. “Thankfully, a bystander… was able to run. And I’m grateful for that gentleman,” Cuevas said. “Because you genuinely did save my son.”

Cuevas, whose son is her only child, expressed heartbreak over the event, which turned what should have been a happy Mother’s Day into a nightmare. “It’s supposed to be a happy day, you know, versus what could have happened, what might have happened,” she said.

The East Side Little League President said the incident has shaken the tight-knit community. In response, the organization has increased security measures, including adding extra supervision during the day and closing the field gates to prevent children from easily leaving the area. “Everybody’s a little more nervous,” the president noted. “I think parents are keeping a closer eye on their kids now that this happened.”

Cuevas is urging other families to remain vigilant and talk with their children about stranger danger and staying aware of their surroundings, especially as warmer weather brings more outdoor activity. She suggested letting kids play in front or back yards rather than roaming more freely. “I know we want to let our kids out with their friends, but maybe open your front yards, open your backyards for them,” she advised.

The family has filed a police report. Chicago Police were contacted about the investigation but had not responded at the time of the report.

Cuevas said the ordeal has deeply traumatized her son. He is now scared to leave the house, play outside, or even walk to school—a routine he previously handled independently. She emphasized the importance of parents discussing these dangers with their children.