3-year-old boy found after alleged abduction, non-custodial mother arrested, Riverside police say

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Sunday, February 5, 2023
Riverside police: Boy found after alleged abduction, mother arrested
A 3-year-old boy has been found and his non-custodial mother arrested after she allegedly abducted him, prompting a search, Riverside police said.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 3-year-old boy has been found and his non-custodial mother arrested after she allegedly abducted him, prompting a search, Riverside police said.

The mother and son were located in Ontario and the alert was canceled about midnight, according to the Riverside Police Department. No other details were immediately provided.

Samantha Hernandez, 25, took her son, Elias Cruz, around 12:30 p.m. Saturday "without consent" in the Arlanza neighborhood, according to investigators.

Police said she is the non-custodial mother of the child and was last seen with the boy walking near Lake and Randolph Street.

Investigators said she may have been heading toward the Santa Ana river bottom area since she is believed to be homeless.

Descriptions of the woman and boy were released to the public by authorities amid the search.