Police: Grandfather might lead them to kidnapped boy

By Mary Manning

Published Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 11:14 a.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 | 12:41 p.m.

UPDATE: Boy’s grandfather arrested; focus turns to 2 others

Fifty hours after 6-year-old Cole Puffinburger was kidnapped at gunpoint, Metro Police said they are looking for his grandfather, hoping he might lead them to the suspects who they believe are involved in drug dealing.

During a news conference Friday morning, police identified Clemens Fred Tinnemeyer, 51, as a person of interest in the case that began Wednesday morning in a quiet northeastern Las Vegas Valley neighborhood.

Cole has not been found, police said.

"The reason Cole was kidnapped was because of the drug dealing," Cannito said. Family members may be linked to methamphetamine dealing in Las Vegas, he said.

Metro Police on Thursday said Cole's kidnapping from his Cherry Grove Avenue home was linked to drug activity within the family.

"We are taking a very close look at every member of the family as well as friends and acquaintances," said Metro Police Capt. Vincent Cannito.

"We are dealing with millions of dollars" in drug money, Cannito said. "Tinnemeyer has stolen a large sum of money."

However, the No. 1 goal of Metro Police is to find Cole and bring him to safety, Cannito said. "We will not stop looking for the child."

Law enforcement agencies in Nevada, California, Arizona and Texas are on the lookout, as well as the U.S. Border Patrol, Cannito said.

Police said Tinnemeyer owns a sightseeing motorhome service and left the Las Vegas area on a sightseeing tour on May 21. He contacted a family member on Aug. 22 to say he was in Tennessee, but hasn't been heard from since then.

The family filed a missing persons report on Tennemeyer on Sept. 11, Cannito said.

Tinnemeyer might be driving the motorhome. He also owns a 2004 Dodge pickup truck, last seen bearing Mississippi license tag KA6 251.

He is described as white, 5-foot-10 and weighing 200 pounds or more with brown hair and green eyes, according to a missing person's description. He has a 4-inch scar on his right knee and a 3-inch scar on his left shoulder.

Police said up to three men knocked on the door at the child's home at about 7:23 a.m. Wednesday posing as police officers. After forcing their way into the house, they tied up the child's mother and her boyfriend, then ransacked the house. When the men didn't find money, they took Cole and left.

Cole is described as 3-foot-11 and weighing 48 pounds. He wears silver-rimmed prescription glasses and was last seen wearing a black John Cena WWE wrestling shirt, a sweatshirt with black, blue and silver stars on it, dark jeans, a belt and Vans tennis shoes with a white stripe, police said.

The suspects are described as Hispanic men. At least one man carried what police believe is a semi-automatic weapon. One is described as being in his 30s, weighing about 150 pounds and having long, slicked-back hair, police said. A second suspect is described as about 5-foot-7 and weighing 170 pounds.

At least 100 Metro Police detectives are working 12 hour shifts in an effort to locate the boy, Cannito said.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the boy's home to call them at 828-3111. Anyone who sees Cole is urged to call 911.

Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.