California police have issued an Amber Alert for two young sisters after their mother was found dead at their home. The Kings County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for 3-year-old Arya and 2-year-old Alana Maldonado, who were reported missing from their home in Hanford on January 28.
Authorities responded to a welfare check at the family’s residence that afternoon. Upon arrival, they discovered their mother deceased from a gunshot wound.
Following an initial investigation, police identified 23-year-old Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, the children’s father, as a suspect. Detectives believe Jonathan left the home around 1:00 AM on January 28 with the two girls. He was last seen driving a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra with the California license plate #8LZD084. Officials say he may be heading to Mexico and should be considered armed and dangerous.
Jonathan is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 215 pounds, with black hair and black eyes.
The girls are described as follows: Arya is 3 feet tall and weighs 25 pounds, while Alana is 2 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 20 pounds. Both have brown hair and brown eyes.
The authorities have not provided additional information on how they determined Jonathan’s involvement or the details surrounding the crime scene. They urge anyone with information about the case to contact the Kings County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 670-9320 or (559) 852-2720.
