The first of four suspects has been convicted on charges that he helped torture a Metairie father and son before kidnapping the teen son and demanding an $80,000 ransom, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

Ralin Americo Paca, 20, was found guilty Aug. 27 on two counts of aggravated kidnapping and one count of aggravated burglary following a three-day trial.

His accused co-conspirators, Michelle Mayorga, 21, Nilson Fredrich Ruiz, 21, and Eduardo Nunez Ponce, 24, are still awaiting trial, court records said.

Charged as an adult, Americo was just 17 in 2022 when authorities say the foursome enacted their violent plan that finally ended with a high-speed chase across the New Orleans area.

Midnight break-in

The suspects' main target was a 43-year-old man who worked as a contrac

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