The following is a list of kidnappings that occurred in the 2010s, summarizing the events of each case, including instances of celebrity abductions, claimed hoaxes, suspected kidnappings, extradition abductions, and mass kidnappings.
List DateVictimAbductorLocationAge of victimOutcomeNotes30 January 2010Naga VaishnaviMorla Srinivas Rao, Jagadeesh, and Venkata RaoAndhra Pradesh, India10MurderedVaishnavi was kidnappedKrishna Rao: "Double tragedy: Vaishnavi's father dies of shock" , The New Indian Express, 3 February 2010, retrieved 3 April 2011 and murdered three days after her abduction.2 April 2010Vincent BinderKentrell Johnson, Peter Hughes, and Quentin TruehillFlorida, United States29MurderedVincent Binder, a 29-year-old graduate student of Florida State University, was kidnapped and murdered by three fugitives who escaped from a Louisiana state jail. Truehill was sentenced to death while both Hughes and Johnson were given life sentences for the crime.15 May 2010Hostages of the 2010 Kurram agency mass kidnappingTaliban militants (suspected)Kurram District, PakistanVariousRescued61 people, predominantly civilians, were held hostages by militants posing as policemen from a convoy en route to Parachinar, most of whom were later released. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident, but the Pakistani government has accused the Taliban for orchestrating it.4 June 2010Kyron HormanUnknownPortland, Oregon, U.S.7UnknownHorman disappeared when he did not return home from Skyline Elementary School. Local and state police along with the FBI conducted an exhaustive search for the boy and launched a criminal investigation, but have not uncovered any significant information regarding his whereabouts.8 June 2010Khan KakamaGordon TumusiimeBugolobi, Kampala, Uganda1MurderedKakama was handed to the kidnappers by Molly Nabasa, his nanny. His parents, Sven and Naome Karekaho, work(ed) for the Uganda Revenue Authority and National Environmental Management Authority, respectively.9 June 2010Eliza SamudioBruno Fernandes, Luiz Romão, Marcos dos Santos, Elenilson da Silva, Wemerson de Souza, Fernanda de CastroEsmeraldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil25MurderedSamudio, the mother of footballer Bruno Fernandes's illegitimate child, disappeared while suing Fernandes for child support. One perpetrator later testified that Samudio was abducted, strangled and fed to dogs on orders from Fernandes. Fernandes and several others were ultimately convicted of conspiring in her kidnap and murder.4 September 2010Umar CheemaISI operatives (alleged)PakistanunknownReleasedInvestigative reporter for The News International who was abducted, beaten, flogged and sexually assaulted by an unidentified group of men, who he claimed to be ISI operatives who had targeted him due to his journalistic work.20 October, 2010Yessenia Argelis Loo KamGilberto Ventura Ceballos, Jose Alcibiades Mendez La Chorrera, Panama18MurderedOn the 20th of October, 2010, 18 year old Yessenia Loo Kam was kidnapped while driving her car on Las Américas Avenue in La Chorrera, Panama by Gilberto Ventura Ceballos and Jose Alcibiades Mendez. Ceballos and Mendez demanded $200, 000 from the Loo Kam's parents for her released but no agreement was made. On the 22th of October Loo Kam was shot to death by Ceballos.https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/judicial/ventura-ceballos-cronologia-secuestro-asesinato-jovenes-china_1_1131638.html#8 November 2010Gregorio Barradas MiraveteUnknownIsla, Veracruz28MurderedGregorio Barradas Miravete was a politician from Mexico who was a member of the National Action Party who was kidnapped in Isla, Veracruz. on 8 November 2010 as was then killed.10 November 2010Sarah MaynardMatthew HoffmanMount Vernon, Ohio, U.S.13RescuedHoffman killed Sarah's mother, brother, and mother's friend before kidnapping her and holding her captive in his basement in a bed of leaves. Hoffman admitted to raping her and was arrested in November by two arriving officers, thus rescuing Sarah.12 November 2010Anni DewaniZola Robert Tongo, Mziwamadoda Qwabe, Xolile MngeniGugulethu, Cape Town, South Africa28MurderedDuring a night trip through the Township of Gugulethu, the taxi was hijacked. Husband Shrien was dropped off in the neighboring township of Khayelitsha while Anni was kept. The vehicle was found the next day with Anni's beaten and bruised body in the back seat. Shrien was suspected of masterminded the kidnapping and murder of his wife.Shrien Dewani31Released25 November 2010 Andrew SkeltonJohn SkeltonMorenci, Michigan9Unknown (declared dead)The three boys' mother had custody of them, but they were at their father's house for Thanksgiving when last seen. Their father was convicted of kidnapping them, and still claims they are alive, though police believe he murdered them. In 2025 a court ruled that the Skelton children died the day after their disappearance, but rejected a request to declare that they were murdered.Alexander Skelton7Tanner Skelton59 December, 2010Yong Jian WuGilberto Ventura Ceballos, Jose Alcibiades Mendez Colón, Panama27MurderedOn the 9th of December, 2010, Yong Jian Wu went to buy eight cell phones from Méndez and Ventura Ceballos. Wu was then kidnapped by Mendez and Ceballos and then was held for ransom. Wu's family paid them $83, 000 for Wu's release but was ultimately murdered on the 14th of December, 2010.https://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/judicial/ventura-ceballos-cronologia-secuestro-asesinato-jovenes-china_1_1131638.htmlhttps://www.prensa.com/impresa/panorama/relato-crimenes-conmocionaron-pais_0_3706879555.html19 March 2011Sian O'CallaghanChristopher HalliwellSwindon, Wiltshire, UK22MurderedO'Callaghan was abducted by taxi driver Christopher Halliwell after leaving a nightclub in Swindon and driven to the Savernake Forest, where she was stabbed to death. Her body was buried near Uffington, Oxfordshire.13 April 2011Holly BoboZach Adams, John Dylan Adams, Jason Autry (alleged)Darden, Tennessee, U.S.20MurderedBobo's brother witnessed her walking into the woods outside their home with a man wearing camouflage. Three years later, in 2014, four men were arrested for varying degrees of involvement in the kidnapping. A woman has alleged that she saw a video of Holly Bobo tied up and crying, although the video has not been located. Bobo's body was found in September 2014. Ultimately, Zach Adams, John Dylan Adams, and Jason Autry were convicted or pled guilty to involvement in Bobo's kidnap and murder, but their guilt remains a matter of dispute.29 April 2011Hamza Ali Al-KhateebSyrian governmentDaraa, Syria13MurderedSyrian boy detained by government officials while attempting to break the Siege of Daraa. After his detention, Al-Khateeb was viciously tortured and eventually killed, before his mutilated body was returned to his family.11 May 2011Timmothy James PitzenTimmothy's name is sometimes occasionally spelled Timothy, but it has two "m"s.Amy Fry-PitzenWisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, U.S.6Unknown Timmothy was taken out of school by his mother, Amy Fry-Pitzen, but she did not bring him home. His father, James Pitzen, reported both missing that day. Amy called some family members to tell them she was all right, with Timmothy saying he was hungry in the background. Her body was found, having killed herself, on 14 May. She left a note behind stating that Timmothy was safe and would never be found. Timmothy was not with her the last time she was seen alive, and his whereabouts are still unknown.27 May 2011Saleem ShahzadISI operatives (alleged)Islamabad, Pakistan40MurderedInvestigative journalist who was abducted, tortured and killed, presumably by ISI agents, for his writings criticizing the government and raising questions about kidnappings of fellow journalists.June 2011Nesreen IrsanAli, Alrawabdeh, and Nadia IrsanMontgomery County, Texas, U.S.c. 23EscapedNesreen Irsan was held captive by members of her Muslim family after they found out she was dating a Christian named Coty Beavers. She escaped through a window and fled with Beavers to Spring, where they were married; her family later tracked down and murdered Beavers in retaliation.11 July 2011Leiby KletzkyLevi AronNew York City, U.S.8MurderedKletzky was kidnapped on his way home from day camp in his Hasidic Jewish neighborhood. The alleged killer was apprehended 32 hours later; he confessed to killing the boy and dismembering his body, but entered a plea of not guilty in court.September 2011Sarah Dominique BroadyUnknownKilleen, Texas, U.S.UnknownRescuedThe mother and daughter were allegedly kidnapped by the child's father during an unscheduled visitation. Details of the case have been withheld by the court.Jaiyana Hodges-Broady3 monthsSeptember 7 2011 Samy Zeng ChenGilberto Ventura Ceballos, Jose Alcibiades Mendez La Chorrera, Panama19MurderedOn the 7th of September, 2011 Samy Zeng Chen's car was rammed by Jose Alcibiades Mendez while driving on the Arraiján-La Chorrera highway in La Chorrera, Panama. Méndez walked toward him under the pretext of apologizing, but as soon as he got out of his car Ceballos and Mendez overpowered Chen with a pellet gun then kidnapped Chen alongside his two other passengers Georgina Del Carmen Lee Chen and Joel Mauricio Liu Wong. In the struggle Chen was shot in the buttocks.