Jackson Rodriguez (foto: Official TW/IG/FB account)
Emelec defender Jackson Rodriguez's wife and 5-year-old son were kidnapped during a violent home invasion in Guayaquil. A police investigation is underway as the football world reacts in shock.
Jackson Rodriguez, a defender for C.S. Emelec, is facing a personal nightmare after his wife and 5-year-old son were abducted in the early hours of Wednesday morning during a violent home invasion in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The terrifying incident occurred at around 2:50am, when a group of armed intruders reportedly broke down the front door of Rodriguez’s home using a sledgehammer. According to local police chief Edison Rodriguez, the footballer told authorities that he hid under his bed during the break-in and saw the attackers escaping in a grey double-cab pickup truck.
Police say the kidnappers asked specifically for the player's whereabouts before abducting his family. Rodriguez had not received any prior threats, according to his statement to investigators.
The incident took place in the Mucho Lote 2 neighborhood of Guayaquil, a city that has been under a government-declared “internal armed conflict” since January 2024 due to escalating violence linked to organized crime.
This is not the first case of kidnapping in the area. Earlier this year, a shopkeeper was abducted in a similar attack, allegedly paying a $10,000 ransom after being beaten. Viral videos have circulated showing attempted kidnappings in the same neighborhood.
The club Emelec has yet to issue an official statement. Rodriguez, 26, has made nine appearances in the LigaPro Serie A this season.
The incident brings back haunting memories of other football-related kidnappings, including the 2023 abduction of Luis Diaz's father in Colombia by the ELN (National Liberation Army). Diaz’s mother was also briefly held during that ordeal.
As the investigation continues, the Ecuadorian football community—and beyond—awaits news of the safe return of Rodriguez’s wife and son.