Missing and Murdered Children

Original Post: August 1, 2009Updated: 11 p.m.View Sources

A California AMBER Alert has been issued this evening for a 13-year-old girl from Whittier allegedly abducted by her paternal uncle.

According to Whittier Police, Cynthia Hernandez was taken by her uncle, Juan Hernandez, 45, last night after having an argument with Cynthia’s mother. Family members have told police that Juan Hernandez carries a handgun.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Whittier police at (562) 945-8249.

Victim: Cynthia Irene Hernandez

Cynthia is a 13-year-old Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5’11″ tall and weighs 240lbs. When last seen Cynthia was wearing a pink shirt, blue jean skirt, white tennis shoes, and brown prescription glasses.¹

Suspect: Juan Hernandez

Juan Hernandez is a 45-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. he is 5’8″ tall and weighs 245lbs. When last seen Juan was wearing gray slacks and a long-sleeve dress shirt. Considered armed and dangerous

Suspect Vehicle

1994 Black Chevrolet Silverado Pickup with CA License Text: 8N84118

Updates 

August 1, 2009: 11 p.m.

Cynthia was located at 9 p.m. this evening at a San Dimas Arco gas station. According to the Whittier Police, with the cooperation of the Department of Justice and “sophisticated surveillance equipment” they were able to locate the suspect’s truck. He was taken into custody without incident when he stopped at the gas station to refuel his truck. Cynthia has been returned to her family in Whittier.

The police would not elaborate on the “sophisticated surveillance equipment”.²

Sources 

1. AMBER Alert: Cynthia Hernandez, NCMEC, Last Accessed: August 1, 2009. [↩]
2. Kidnapped Whittier Girl Found Safe, CBS2.com, Last Accessed: August 1, 2009. [↩]

Original Post: July 27, 2009Updated: July 28, 2009View Sources

A Missouri AMBER Alert was issued today for two Poplar Bluff children. Their father beat their mother, who is also his wife, and fled with the children. He has threatened to harm the children or any police who attempts to approach them. The suspect, Edgar Daniel Langley, 31, was last seen on Highway 53 at approximately 7 p.m. this evening driving a dark blue Chevrolet.

Anyone having information about this case is asked to call 9-11 or New Madrid County Sheriff’s Department, 1-573-748-2516.

Victim 1: Crystal Jolene Langley

Crystal is a 6-year-old white female with blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 3’6″ tall and weighs 40lbs. There is no clothing information.¹

Victim 2: Edgar Daniel Langley Jr.

Edgar is a 5-year-old white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 3’4″ tall and weighs 37lbs. When last seen Edgar, Jr. was wearing a blue shirt and tan shorts.

Suspect: Edgar Daniel Langley

Edgar Sr. is a 31-year-old white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 5’9″ tall and weighs 180lbs. When last seen Edgar Sr. was wearing blue and white checked pajama pants and no shirt. He has a tattoo of a rose on his upper left arm.

Suspect Vehicle

Dark blue Chevrolet. No model or license number available at this time.

Updates

July 28, 2009: 1 p.m. PST

The AMBER Alert was canceled after the children were found unharmed. The suspect was taken into custody. Charges are pending.²

Sources

1. AMBER Alert: Langley Siblings, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 27, 2009. [↩]
2. UPDATED: AMBER Alert Canceled for Children in New Madrid, KSDK.com, Last Accessed: July 28, 2009. [↩]

Original Post: July 14, 2009Click for UpdatesView Sources

An AMBER Alert was issued earlier this afternoon by the California Highway Patrol for the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura after children were reportedly abducted from a Norwalk parking lot located on Pioneer Boulevard. The vehicle was last seen traveling east bound on Pioneer Boulevard.

The father of 2-year-old Sheryl Lynn Vasquez and 5-year-old Noel Vasquez claims he left his children inside his vehicle in the parking lot with the engine running while he ran inside the store for a few minutes. When he came back outside the vehicle and his children were gone. The father reported the stolen vehicle shortly before 3 p.m. today.

There are no pictures available of the abducted children at this time.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department at 562-863-8711 or 9-1-1.

This abduction occurred less than ten minutes from my home. If this guy jumped on the freeway the closest freeways are the 605, 5 and 91.

Local news affiliate CBS2 is reporting that there is a very heavy police presence in the area with different agencies responding to search for the children. Of concern is the suspect may have ditched the vehicle after realizing the children were inside the car. Current temperatures are hovering at 90 degrees. Authorities are searching parking lots and streets in the area. There is also surveillance video of the car theft and abduction. It shows the suspect walking around the vehicle and then climbing into the vehicle and driving off.

Victim 1: Sheryl Lynn Vasquez

Sheryl Lynn is a 2-year-Hispanic female with brown hair and unknown eye color. She is 2FT tall and weights 25LBS. When last seen Sheryl Lynn was wearing a pink shirt with flowers and white shorts.

Victim 2: Noel Vasquez

Noel is a 5-year-old Hispanic male with brown hair and unknown eye color. He is 3FT tall and weighs 45LBS. When last seen Noel was wearing a white shirt with red Spiderman shorts.

Suspect: Unknown

The suspect is described as an unknown Hispanic male last seen wearing a white shirt and dark shorts. He has a shaved head.

Suspect Vehicle

The vehicle is the one stolen from the parking lot belonging to the victims’ father. 2005 Blue Toyota Scion with California License 5HPC820

Updates

July 14, 2009: 8:30 p.m. PST

The AMBER Alert has been resolved with the children being found safe at a gas station in the city of Compton. Police believe the suspect may not have realized the children were sitting in the backseat of the vehicle, strapped into their child safety seats, because the van windows were darkly tinted. There is no word on the suspect. I am glad to see this story had a happy ending. I hope this father learned a lesson about leaving his children unattended in a vehicle, especially with the engine running.

Sources

AMBER Alert Case: Vasquez, Sheryl Lynn & Noel, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Last Accessed: July 14, 2009.

Amber Alert Issued for 2 Children in Car Stolen in Norwalk, CBS2.com, Last Accessed: July 14, 2009.

Children Found Safe in Compton After Car Stolen, NBC Los Angeles.com, Last Accessed: July 14, 2009.