An urgent AMBER Alert has been activated by the California Highway Patrol on behalf of the Kings County Sheriff's Office following the abduction of two young children from Hanford in Kings County on Monday. Little Arya Maldonado, age 3, and her sister Alana Maldonado, just 2 years old, were last seen near East 4th Place and Home Ave., as reported by CHP Alerts.
AMBER Alert- Kings, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Orange and Imperial Counties
— CHP - Alerts (@CHPAlerts) January 29, 2025
Last Seen: East 4th Place and Home Ave., Hanford @KingsCoSheriff
IF SEEN, CALL 9-1-1 pic.twitter.com/FCDg5aVmBx
Authorities have identified the suspect in this alarming case as Jonathan Maldonado Cruz, a 23-year-old male believed to be traveling possibly toward Mexico and should be considered armed and dangerous. The details, including descriptions of the children and the suspect and the vehicle information, a 2020 Gray Hyundai Elantra with the California license plate 8LZD084, were disseminated through social media posts by the CHP Alerts.
Members of the public are playing a crucial role in this intense search, and law enforcement urges anyone with information to come forward and call 9-1-1 immediately.
