Victims, suspect were related in Tulare County kidnapping, says DA's office

VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Prosecutors person revealed the nexus betwixt the two children kidnapped successful Tulare County earlier this week and 1 of the suspects, detailing that 1 of the suspects was biologically related to the victims.

According to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the 2 suspects allegedly progressive entered the Earlimart location connected Monday wherever the 2 young children (aged 5 and six years old) were staying, and took them. That prompted an Amber Alert to beryllium issued aboriginal Monday greeting for Fresno County, Kings County and Tulare County.

The DA's bureau reports that 1 of the suspects, 29-year-old Makenzie Morrelli, was the children's biologic parent and her custody rights had been terminated. Prosecutors accidental she went into the location of the children's ineligible guardian astatine astir 12:30 a.m. and took the 2 children with assistance from different person. The different person, 28-year-old Kayla Williams, helped region the children from the home, prosecutors add.

Officials accidental that Makenzie Morrelli gave herself up to instrumentality enforcement astatine astir 4 a.m. and the children were returned safely.

The DA's bureau says Morrelli and Williams are charged with 2 felony counts of kidnapping, 1 number of felony first-degree burglary, and 2 felony counts of kid stealing. Morrelli has already pleaded not blameworthy astatine an arraignment - whereas Williams' arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 9.

A 3rd person, 57-year-old David Steen, was besides arrested successful transportation with the kidnapping. The Tulare County District Attorney's Office confirmed to YourCentralValley.com that David Steen was nary longer being charged successful transportation with this incident.