Authorities in Hillsborough County are actively searching for four children who went missing on Monday, June 23, from Ruskin, Florida. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has issued a missing child alert for 4-month-old Malaysia Penny, 9-year-old Jerome Penny Jr., 11-year-old Egypt Penny, and 12-year-old Justyce Cepeda-Penny, as reported by WFLA.
Last seen in the 14400 block of Editors Note Street in Ruskin, the children are believed to be with Erica Cepeda and Jerome Penny, who was described with brown hair and stands 6-foot-5 and weighs around 210 pounds, has scars on his right hand, along with a tattoo that says "respect" on his right arm, having the kids potentially in danger, although the nature of this risk was not specified. Descriptions of the children and the adults they may be with have been circulated, including physical features and distinguishing tattoos, according to the WTSP report. Members of the public who spot them are urged not to approach but to contact law enforcement immediately.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, has confirmed that this case is over custody, and the parents are not communicating with the Department of Children and Families. Detailed descriptions of Malaysia, Jerome, Egypt, and Justyce have been provided, including their height, weight, and the color of their hair and eyes. The search includes looking for a White-Hispanic female, Erica Cepeda, who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and 170 pounds, with a script tattoo on her neck and a Chinese symbol tattoo on her right arm, possibly adorned with a rainbow stud piercing on her left eyebrow, with efforts for recovering the children without jeopardizing their safety.
As the community anxiously hopes for the safe return of these minors, information regarding their whereabouts is crucial, and anyone with knowledge of their location is encouraged to make a prompt call to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-247-8200 or to dial 911. For additional details and updates, individuals can refer to the description provided by ABC Action News, which includes a photograph of the Penny children released by FDLE.
