Two young girls who authorities say were abducted by their father in Kings County after he allegedly killed their mother, prompting an Amber Alert across much of Central and Southern California, were found safe and the man taken was into custody, officials said Thursday.
The Amber Alert issued Wednesday included Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Riverside counties, with authorities suspecting the suspect may have been fleeing to Mexico.
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According to the Kings County Sheriff's Office, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, 23, is suspected of fatally shooting the children's mother on Tuesday in Hanford and fleeing with the children -- Arya, 3, and Alana, 2.
Sheriff's officials on Thursday posted a photo online of the two children taken after they were found, showing them appearing to be safe and unharmed. Maldonado-Cruz was also taken into custody.
"Thank you to everyone who assisted in spreading the word to help locate Alana and Arya," the Kings County Sheriff's Office posted. "The case developed quickly thanks to the support of the community."
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