OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. -- Robbery turned into a family affair in Kissimmee. Three brothers were arrested for mugging a woman along US-192 and, when deputies went to arrest them, they said the boys' mother tried to hide the evidence.
Laura Shelley was walking the same route she takes home every night when suddenly she was jumped by three teen brothers. They threw her in these bushes and then fought with her until she released her purse.
Laura Shelley recognized the mug shot right away as the 18-year-old she says mugged her with his little bothers helping as she walked along US-192 Thursday night, shouting at her in Spanish.
"I was afraid for my life, actually, because I didn't know what was happening or what they were saying," Shelley said.
"She was able to describe the suspects pretty clearly and deputies set up a perimeter and found the three juveniles just a couple of blocks away," explained Twis Lisasuain, Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies were shocked to find the three teens are brothers, but were stunned again when they caught up with mom, Gladys Esquilin-Perez, who they hid their clothes and other evidence.
"We don't believe she had a part in the crime, but knowing that they were going to commit this crime was irresponsible on her part as a parent and certainly it's a crime when you hide the evidence and so that is what landed her in jail," explained
"Physically, I'm okay. My security is gone," Shelley said.
The fear brought tears to the victim's eyes Friday.
"I didn't sleep. I can still see their faces, I can still hear them. And now I don't walk anywhere by myself," she said.
The thought of a family where crime is acceptable she just can't understand.
"She's not a mother. Yes, a mother protects their children, but a mother should also raise their children better," she said.
Deputies arrested 18-year-old Armando Velez-Esquilin, 15-year-old Anthony Velez-Esquilin, 17-year-old Luis Daniel Velez-Esquilin and 35-year-old Gladys Ivette Esquilin-Perez.
The three teens are charged with robbery and their mom is charged with accessory after the face. Investigators also said they don't have a good reason for the mom being so close by; she was apparently right up the street waiting.
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