On March 6, 2008, Investigators of the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office traveled to the United States, Mexico border and returned three minor children to the custodial parent living in Tulare County.

The investigation stemmed from a parental abduction matter brought to the attention of the District Attorney’s office during the last week of February.

Investigators discovered that the children’s mother, a Mexican citizen, abducted the children from Tulare County and transported them to the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. The city is located approximately 1700 miles south of the international border.

During the investigation, Investigators were able to reach and negotiate with the non custodial parent in Mexico for the safe return of the three minor boys, ages, 13, 8 and 5 years.

The abducting parent, their mother, was aware of the violations of the court order and that she could face criminal charges should she return.

During these extensive negotiations, the parent volunteered to return the children, who are U.S. citizens, to the United States Embassy, in Mexico City.

With assistance from Mexican social workers called, “Desarrollo Integral De La Familia” D.I.F. (Family Social Services) and the United States Department of Justice, Foreign Prosecution Unit, the children were flown to the border in Tijuana and met by Investigators from the Department of Justice and this office.

The children were located in good condition and healthy. The children were transported today to Tulare County where they were reunited to their father who resides in Visalia.

The public is reminded that custody court orders issued by the Tulare County Superior Courts are enforceable throughout the State of California. Violators of these court orders and those who remove children from Tulare County could face criminal offenses described as Parental Abduction crimes.

The Tulare County District Attorney’s Office requests that complaints of child abduction or court order violations be directed to local law enforcement jurisdictions.


Media inquiries can be directed to:
Tulare County District Attorney’s Office
Assistant District Attorney Don Gallian
(559) 733-6411