Carpinteria Mother Suspected Of Abducting Her Own Son Taken Into Custody
UPDATE
Authorities say that Kimberley Faith Merritt, 31, the Carpinteria mother suspected of abducting her 3-year-old son, was arrested and taken into custody on Wednesday.
Merritt was located in Siskiyou County, a county located in northern California near the Oregon border.
3-year-old Maxwell DiNardo is safe and will be turned over to the custody of his father.
Merritt will be transferred to Santa Barbara County, and according to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office, she will arraigned on charges of felony child abduction and violating court order for failing to comply with the court-ordered custody arrangement.
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ORIGINAL STORY
Police are searching for a Carpinteria mother suspected of abducting her 3-year-old son, Maxwell DiNardo, last month.
Relative said Kimberley Faith Merritt, 31, a Carpinteria resident, dropped her six year old daughter off at her mother’s house in July and said she was taking her son on vacation.
Prosecutors said she will be arrested if she is found.
Judge Thomas Anderle gave Max’s father Michael DiNardo temporary custody of both children after Merritt disappeared with their son.
The judge also ordered the Santa Barbara District Attorney to locate Maxwell.
Deputy District Attorney Wesley Meyer said she will be arrested if she is found by police.
Max’s paternal grandmother believes his mother is traveling with an unstable man who calls himself Gogd, Yesai and Harikrishna. Annette DiNardo said he mentioned Mt. Shasta and outer space in texts.
Prosecutors did not know whether the man was an accomplice, but they suspect the mother and child may be in Mt. Shasta or another part of Northern California.
Neighbors described her as soft-spoken and sweet part-time hairdresser. They described the man she may be traveling with as a someone who never wore shoes.
About a week before the mother and child disappeared, Sheriff’s deputies were called to Merritt’s mobile home. A neighbor called the police after seeing the man and hearing the children cry.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information on Merritt’or little Maxwell’s whereabouts to contact DA Investigator Rose at 805-568-2360, or the Santa Barbara County District Attorney Child Abduction Unit at 805-568-2400.
