Two young children who were abducted from their home in Kings County, California, were safely recovered Thursday, following the tragic death of their mother earlier this week. The girls, aged two and three, were taken by their father, 23-year-old Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, leading to an Amber Alert issued across a wide area of the state.
Maldonado-Cruz is suspected of fatally shooting the girls’ mother, 22-year-old Madeline Rose Cuevas, in their Hanford home. The tragic event unfolded when Madeline’s father, Joel Cuevas, called 911 after losing contact with his daughter. Authorities later discovered Madeline’s body inside the home.
Investigators believe the shooting occurred late Monday night or early Tuesday morning, giving Maldonado-Cruz a significant head start before the authorities began their search. The FBI tracked Maldonado-Cruz’s cellphone and discovered he had crossed into Mexico.
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In collaboration with Mexican authorities and Maldonado-Cruz’s own mother, law enforcement worked to negotiate the safe return of the children. On Thursday, Maldonado-Cruz agreed to hand over the girls at the San Ysidro border crossing near San Diego.
Following the exchange, Maldonado-Cruz was taken into custody, and the children were reunited with their extended family. The girls’ maternal grandfather, Joel Cuevas, spoke of Madeline as a dedicated mother and Costco supervisor, who had recently purchased a new home. She was set to celebrate her 23rd birthday on Valentine’s Day.
To support the girls’ future, Cuevas’ family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial assistance for their care.
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