Two children have gone missing in California, and police believe their father may have taken them. Authorities are asking the public for help in finding them.
On Friday, Aug. 15, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) and its South Los Angeles Station shared a special bulletin on social media asking for help locating two “critical missing children.” The case is considered a “parental abduction.”
The missing children are Aastha Vides (8) and Juaquin Vides Jr. (11). They were last seen with their father, Juaquin Vides Sr., on Aug. 8 around 6 p.m. on the 1000 block of W. 88th Street in unincorporated Los Angeles, according to the LASD bulletin.
The bulletin named the 35-year-old father as a suspect and noted that he is “deaf/mute.”
The three were last seen in a green 2012 Mazda2 with the California license plate 9DRV087, according to the bulletin.
Another suspect, Sylvia Gonzalez, 53, was also seen driving the vehicle. Her connection to the children and their father is not yet clear.
“They may have a possible destination within the city of San Jose,” the LASD said. The bulletin also noted, “The family is concerned for the children’s well-being and is asking for the public’s assistance in locating them.”
According to the bulletin, Juaquin Jr. is 3 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 49 lbs. Aastha is 3 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 35 lbs. Both children have black hair and brown eyes. Aastha also has a birthmark on her left foot.
Juaquin Jr. was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt with a yellow stripe. Aastha was last seen in a green T-shirt with white flowers.
As for the suspects, Juaquin Sr. is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, weighs 220 lbs., and has brown hair and brown eyes. Sylvia Gonzalez is 5 feet, 1 inch tall, weighs 233 lbs., and has gray hair and hazel eyes.
The LASD said that anyone with information should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, South Los Angeles Station Detective Partida or the on-duty Watch Commander at (323) 820-6700.
