Two children who had been missing for nearly two years after their mother was killed in California have been found safe in Mexico, according to law enforcement officials. The children, identified as 8-year-old Emma and 6-year-old Jacob, were located in a rural area of Baja California on May 19, 2026.
The children's mother, 34-year-old Maria Hernandez, was found dead in her home in San Diego County in July 2024. The children were reported missing shortly after. Authorities believe the children were taken by a family member, who has been taken into custody in Mexico pending extradition proceedings.
San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed that the children are in good health and have been reunited with their maternal grandmother in the United States. The investigation into the mother's death remains ongoing, with no charges filed yet.
