Abducted infant found alive following New Mexico shooting that left mom dead, 5-year-old injured
A missing 10-month-old girl was found alive after police discovered her mother’s body and her 5-year-old stepsister shot in the head at a New Mexico park, officials said.
A suspect, who has yet to be identified, was arrested Monday in the kidnapping of Eleia Maria Torres, who was located three days after police issued an Amber Alert.
Officers were informed of the disappearance on Friday after receiving a call that the infant’s mother, Samantha “Harley” Cisneros, 23, was found dead in Ned Houk Park with another woman, Taryn Allen, also 23, according to the Clovis Police Department.
Police also found Eleia ‘s 5-year-old stepsister suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, with first responders quickly taking the girl to a hospital, where she remains under critical care.
After investigators found a stroller and booster seat in the family’s car, they concluded that Eleia was likely kidnapped by the suspect who killed her mother, with police quickly launching a search for the 10-month-old girl.
Surveillance video showed that the victims had stopped by a Twin Cronnie Drive-In to pick up food and then spent time at a Dollar Tree before arriving at the park, CW39 reports.
It remains unclear how long they were there before two men called police at 4:25 p.m. about the bodies at the park.
The fathers of both girls, who were not considered suspects, had also assisted in the investigation, cops said.
Following the three-day search, the FBI Albuquerque field office confirmed that Elia was found safe and that a suspect was in custody.
The FBI declined to provide further information about the suspect or investigation.
Cisneros’ aunt, Pamula Lerma, has since started a GoFundMe page to help the family deal with Cisneros’ death and the 5-year-old’s injury.
“As a family we are left dealing with the tragic death of Samantha, her 5 yr old daughter fighting for her life…,” Lerma wrote. “Harley was a devoted mother to those 2 little girls of hers.”
