An intense search for a nine-month-old baby, Leonardo Meza, who was reportedly abducted in Anaheim, concluded with the child's safe return. The California Highway Patrol announced the issuance of an Amber Alert on Sunday after the child's disappearance, according to KTLA. The emergency alert spread rapidly, urging the public to look out for the infant and the suspect, identified by authorities as 30-year-old Roberto Castillo Meza.
By 10:15 p.m., CHP confirmed that the baby was found by declaring to deactivate the Amber Alert, stating, "the subject has been located." However, the details surrounding how and where Leonardo was located were not disclosed. The search to swiftly locate the child had been made urgent due to the circumstances of his alleged abduction, which occurred around 4:45 p.m. the previous day near West Crescent Avenue and North Loara Street in Anaheim.
The suspect, initially at large, was described as a 5-foot-8 Hispanic male weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes, and several tattoos on his right arm. Police were seeking information on a tan 2003 Mercedes-Benz AMG with the California license plate number 8HJV603, last seen at the location of the abduction. The relationship between Roberto Castillo Meza and the child was not immediately clarified by officials.
While the alert was active, officials made clear the importance of public vigilance and cooperation, emphasizing to call 911 immediately if any relevant information came to light. The swift dissemination of the Amber Alert may have played a pivotal role in ensuring the child was found unharmed, showcasing the system's capacity to mobilize communities in critical situations. The CHP’s call for urgent action was echoed across Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Imperial, and Orange counties, according to a now-deactivated CHP alert.
This AMBER ALERT has been deactivated.
— CHP - Alerts (@CHPAlerts) April 7, 2025
The subject has been located.
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AMBER ALERT - San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Imperial and Orange Counties
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The Anaheim Police Department, leading the investigation, has yet to release further information on the baby's condition following the resolution of the alert. The people who provided crucial tips or who were set to keenly observe and report during the Amber Alert period remain unsung contributors to the successful outcome, as CBS News reported the resolution of an ordeal that could have taken a much darker turn.
