The person at the center of this case
Car salesman (armed robbery and kidnapping victim)
Violent Crime · Open - Fugitive
45 years waiting · since 1980
LUIS ROSADO
Justice for Car salesman (armed robbery and kidnapping victim) — the trail went cold in 1980, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where has Rosado been hiding since 1981? Known ties to New York City, Puerto Rico, and Havana suggest possible locations.
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person
Lead #2What is Rosado's current status and appearance? Has he aged significantly since 1980?
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contact
Lead #3Does Rosado maintain contact with his accomplice, who was convicted and sentenced in March 1981?
On December 10, 1980, Luis Rosado and an accomplice robbed a car salesman at gunpoint at a dealership in Highland Park, Illinois, bound him, and fled in a stolen van. After arrest and release on bond, Rosado failed to appear for trial in March 1981 and has remained a fugitive for over four decades. He is believed to have ties to New York, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, and is suspected of involvement with a clandestine organization.
Case
#650
FBI; Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois; United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4What is the nature of Rosado's alleged involvement with FALN, and has this influenced his fugitive status?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution - Armed Robbery; Kidnapping, Theft, Aggravated Battery, Failure to Appear Caution: Luis Rosado, along with an accomplice, allegedly entered a car dealership in Highland Park, Illinois, on December 10, 1980, and robbed the salesman at gunpoint. Rosado and his accomplice then allegedly bound the salesman and drove away with a stolen van from the dealership.
Following a high-speed police chase, both were arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, theft, and aggravated battery. They were released on bond, however, Rosado failed to appear for his March of 1981 trial.
A state warrant was issued on March 6, 1981, for Rosado's arrest by the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois. Rosado was charged federally with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest on March 6, 1981.
Rosado's accomplice was tried in March of 1981, and was subsequently convicted and sentenced. Remarks: Rosado has ties to New York City, New York, and Puerto Rico.
He may travel to Havana, Cuba. He is allegedly an active member of the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberacion National de Puerto Rico (FALN), a clandestine terrorist organization.
Timeline of Events
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1980-12-10
Armed Robbery and Kidnapping
Luis Rosado and accomplice robbed a car salesman at gunpoint at a dealership in Highland Park, Illinois, bound the victim, and stole a van
🕵️
1981-03-06
Warrant Issued
State warrant issued by Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois for Rosado's arrest; federal warrant issued by United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 10, 1980
Last Updated:May 14, 2026
Up to $50,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case
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Case Information
Incident:December 10, 1980
Last Updated:May 14, 2026
Up to $50,000 Reward
For information leading to the resolution of this case