On January 16th, 2019 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Nampa Police received a report of a custodial interference. It was reported that Jose A. Hernandez, a 25-year-old Caldwell resident, had taken 3 children (ages 5, 3, and 18 months) out of state. Hernandez shared custody of the children with the mother however he was threatening to take the children to Mexico, so the mother wouldn’t see the children again.
Members of the Nampa Police Child Abduction Response Team (CART) began investigating. Information was received that Hernandez was in the Phoenix, Arizona area. An Amber Alert was issued due to the threat of taking the children out of the country. Arizona Highway Patrol was provided information from CART. Shortly after the Amber Alert was issued, Hernandez and the children were located on US 93 at milepost 142, near Wikieup, Arizona. Hernandez was taken into custody without incident and the children were located safely.
The children are currently in the care of the Department of Child Services in Arizona. The Department of Child Services is working with the children’s mother to return them to Idaho. Hernandez is currently in custody in Arizona on a zero-bond warrant for Felony Child Custody Interference.
This case is a great example of how well the Amber Alert system works and also how well agencies can work together. The Nampa Police Department would like to thank the Arizona Highway Patrol for their assistance in locating Hernandez and recovering the children safe and unharmed.