A Fitchburg woman and her five children, who previously had the police and public concerned for their safety, were located in Whitney, Texas, after being reported missing earlier in the week. Ruth Encarnacion, the mother of the children, accompanied by Isael Rivera, vanished with the minors under unclear circumstances which prompted an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department. The missing persons included Alexander Rivera, 10; Alejandro Rivera, 9; Alonzo Rivera, 5; Abigail Rivera, 4; and Adonis Rivera, 9 months old, as reported by 7NEWS.
According to 7NEWS, law enforcement issued warrants for five counts of custodial kidnapping of a minor by a relative against both Encarnacion and Rivera. The search came to an end when the family was taken into custody in Texas. The efforts to locate them included local police and extended to federal departments as well. Found were the family and taken into custody, thus ending a worrying disappearance.
The children, who were also found safe, are now in the care of Texas Child Protective Services. Arrangements are being made by the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families in collaboration with Texas authorities to safely return the family to Massachusetts. This was confirmed by a Boston 25 News report.
Prior to the family being located, the Fitchburg Police Department had issued an urgent alert for the group, providing descriptions of the individuals and their vehicle, as stated by Hoodline. Public assistance was sought in the search for a black 2018 Infiniti QX60 with Massachusetts registration plate 5GCX18, which the family was believed to be traveling in. The vehicle and the family were sighted, leading to their discovery and the assistance provided by the alert public.
"The Fitchburg Police Department’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation worked tirelessly the past several days to bring this ordeal to a successful resolution," Fitchburg police said in a release. They also extended their gratitude to various law enforcement partners, such as the Massachusetts State Police, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the Hill County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in resolving the situation, as per Boston 25 News. These developments signified the end of a strenuous search that left a community anxious for days.
