KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Two small girls from Kings County are present harmless with household aft a traumatic week.
Kings County Sheriff's deputies accidental they were kidnapped by their father, 23-year-old Jonathan Maldonado-Cruz, aft helium murdered their mother, 22-year-old Madeline Rose Cuevas.
Action News spoke to Joel Cuevas, the victim's begetter and the gramps of the 2 small girls, Friday morning.
He says they've already been asking questions astir the situation.
Although they bash recognize thing is wrong, they are present harmless and staying with family.
Joel tells america his household is trying to reconstruct a consciousness of normalcy oregon the girls and the 2 had pancakes for breakfast.
He shares that his granddaughters are conscionable opening an affectional roadworthy to recovery.
He points retired a resemblance betwixt his granddaughters and their mom, "My girl mightiness beryllium gone, but if you announcement the oldest one, reminds maine a batch of my daughter... I spot my girl successful her. My girl mightiness beryllium gone from the Earth, but we're not excessively acold away, not excessively acold distant I could consciousness that."
Detectives accidental Madeline was changeable to decease successful her location astir 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Joel Cuevas and his household were reunited with the girls Thursday aft Maldonado-Cruz handed them implicit and turned himself successful astatine the Mexican borderline successful San Ysidro.
Authorities say, his parent helped successful negotiations.
Action News captured exclusive video arsenic they arrived astatine the airdrome successful Visalia earlier the fishy was booked into jail.
The Kings County Sheriff's bureau and the territory attorney's bureau are moving alongside each different to finalize the transgression study and see imaginable charges.
"On Monday we volition beryllium looking astatine the full lawsuit and making a last determination truthful we should person thing by 1 o'clock," says District Attorney Sarah Hacker.
Hacker says she can't remark connected this circumstantial case, but points retired determination are peculiar enhancements for the usage of a firearm.
Two children who were taken from their location successful Kings County person been recovered harmless aft their parent was killed earlier this week.
"The usage of a handgun with execution tin transportation an further 25 to beingness condemnation truthful 25 to beingness +25 to life," explains Hacker.
Hacker says successful the aftermath of the calamity the assemblage and respective agencies person travel together.
"Our DA's office, the sheriff section kid protective services present successful Kings County. All of those radical contributed and helped get this lawsuit wherever it's astatine close now," said Hacker.
Family members accidental Maldonado-Cruz and Cuevas had been dating but precocious ended their relationship.
The Marjaree Mason Center says determination are definite predictors that bespeak if someone's spouse is apt to severely injure them oregon termination them.
Chief Programs Officer Leticia Campos says immoderate informing signs are much subtle.
"What we bash thin to spot is initially, it starts with a batch of intelligence and affectional maltreatment that sometimes victims of home unit don't needfully admit arsenic a reddish emblem oregon a warning," said Campos. "So, things similar jealousy. Oftentimes, particularly with our young population. Oftentimes jealousy is viewed as, 'oh, they're protective,' oregon 'they emotion maine right?'"
Campos besides says successful cases of home violence, whether they extremity successful decease oregon not, the children are profoundly affected.
They besides person a higher accidental of becoming a home unit unfortunate successful their beingness oregon becoming an abuser among different outcomes.
Madeline would person turned 23 connected Valentine's Day.
The household is present readying her ceremonial and moving towards finalizing custody arrangements for the girls.
As they navigate this hard time, they accidental the community's prayers and enactment person not gone unnoticed.
The fishy volition beryllium successful tribunal for his arraignment connected Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Madeline's household has acceptable up a GoFundMe page for her ceremonial expenses and thing the girls mightiness request successful the future.
For quality updates, travel Kassandra Gutierrez connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For quality updates, travel Kate Nemarich connected Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Copyright © 2025 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.

1 year ago
58




