SAN DIEGO (CNS) — Two young girls who authorities say were abducted by their father in Kings County after he allegedly killed their mother, prompting an Amber Alert across much of Central and Southern California, were found safe and the man taken into custody, officials said Thursday.
The Amber Alert issued Wednesday included Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties, with authorities suspecting the suspect may have been fleeing to Mexico.
According to the Kings County Sheriff's Office, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, 23, is suspected of fatally shooting the children's mother on Tuesday in Hanford and fleeing with the children.
Sheriff's officials on Thursday posted a photo online of the two children taken after they were found, showing them appearing to be safe and unharmed. Maldonado-Cruz was also taken into custody.
"Thank you to everyone who assisted in spreading the word to help locate [the children]," the Kings County Sheriff's Office posted. "The case developed quickly thanks to the support of the community."
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Below you'll find CNS' original story on the Amber Alert.
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert across much of Central and Southern California Wednesday as authorities searched for a man suspected of killing a woman in Kings County and abducting their two young daughters.
The Amber Alert included Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties, with authorities saying the suspect may have fled to Mexico.
According to the Kings County Sheriff's Office, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, 23, is suspected of fatally shooting the children's mother on Tuesday in Hanford and fleeing with the children, aged 2 and 3.
He was last seen leaving the residence in a 2020 four-door gray Hyundai Elantra with California license place 8LZD084.
The suspect was described as 5-foot-9, weighing 215 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He should be considered armed and dangerous, sheriff's officials said.
The missing children were two girls: One was 3 feet tall, weighing 25 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The other was a 2 year old, who is 2-foot-5, weighing 20 pounds, also with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts was asked to call 911.
Copyright 2025, City News Service, Inc.