Father kills mother of his children and abducts daughters
- Authorities issued an Amber Alert for two young girls after their mother was found murdered at their home.
- The suspect, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, is believed to have fled the scene with the children around 1 a.m. Tuesday.
- The case raises concerns for the safety of the girls, prompting a wide search for their whereabouts.
In California, a tragic incident unfolded on Tuesday when authorities responded to a welfare check in Hanford, approximately 30 miles south of Fresno. Upon arrival at the residence located on the 11500 block of Fourth Place, deputies discovered a woman who had been fatally shot. The victim has been identified as the mother of two young girls, aged three and two, who were later reported missing. They are believed to have been abducted by their father, Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, who is suspected to have fled the scene with the children, Arya Maldonado and Alana Maldonado. The Kings County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation immediately after the woman was found deceased at the home. They identified Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, aged 23, as the primary suspect in the shooting. Authorities believe he left the residence around 1 a.m. on Tuesday, taking with him his daughters, and are concerned for the safety of the children. An Amber Alert was subsequently issued for Arya and Alana, detailing their physical attributes as well as the vehicle Maldonado-Cruz was believed to be driving: a grey 2020 Hyundai Elantra with California license plate number 8LZD084. The Amber Alert was distributed across multiple counties in the state, including Kings, Fresno, and Los Angeles. The alert serves as a crucial tool to mobilize the public in search of the missing children. Given the circumstances surrounding their abduction, authorities are treating this matter with the utmost urgency. The sheriff's office has urged anyone with any information regarding the suspect, the children, or their whereabouts to come forward. They have made available both a non-anonymous and an anonymous contact method for tips. As the search for Jonathon and the children progresses, the possibility of escaping to Mexico looms larger. Law enforcement remains dedicated to finding the girls as quickly as possible. Their safety and well-being remain the highest priority amid this tragic and heavy situation for both the family involved and the community as a whole. The investigative team is pooling resources, including efforts from the California Highway Patrol, in hopes of locating the children and bringing them back safely.