On September 12, 2009, Tulare County District Attorney Child Abduction Investigators and Visalia Police received a report that children participating in court-ordered supervised visitation were taken from the custody of guardians at a Visalia restaurant.

The foster parents of the two children, ages 4 years and 8 months were directed by the court to supervise and participate in the parents’ visits. The visits were to be conducted at a local fast food restaurant located near Demaree and Mineral King Streets in Visalia.

For the visitation, the biological parent, Melissa Sevedra Estrada, age 32, was allowed to have a short supervised visit with the children. During the visitation, Estrada took the two children out of the restaurant and fled the area on foot. Visalia Police Department officials responded to the area and took the initial report of parental Child Abduction. A search commenced for the children.

On September 16, 2009, at approximately 1:30 PM, Investigators and Detectives located the suspect Estrada walking, without the children, in the area of Dinuba Blvd. and Prospect. A Visalia Police Detective and Tulare County District Attorney Investigator arrested Estrada and she refused to disclose the whereabouts of the minors. Estrada was booked into Tulare County Jail for 278 P.C., Child Abduction and bail was set at $40,000.
As the search for the children continued, a Tulare County District Attorney Investigator located the two children abandoned at a residence in the 2400 block of north Summers St. The children were returned to Child Welfare Services for treatment, care and custody.

At approximately 6:30 PM, Investigators located Donal Chavez in the same area where Estrada had been located. Chavez was subsequently arrested as an aider and abettor in the child abduction and booked into Tulare County Jail.

The public is reminded that custody court orders issued by the Tulare County Superior Courts are enforceable throughout the State of California.

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

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