California Authorities Locate Abducted Sisters, Father Arrested

Alana and Arya Maldonado were found safe after an Amber Alert was issued when their mother was discovered dead from a gunshot wound in Hanford, California. Authorities identified their father, 23-year-old Jonathan Maldonado-Cruz, as the suspect and believed he had taken the children, aged 2 and 3, in a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra. The Amber Alert prompted assistance from state and federal law enforcement agencies and was widely supported by the community. Following a swift investigation, Maldonado-Cruz was taken into custody, and the Amber Alert was deactivated. The case began when police conducted a welfare check on the family and discovered the mother's body. The California Highway Patrol played a significant role in the search for the children and their father.