| For Immediate Release
May 15, 2008 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEK PUBLIC’S HELP IN LOCATING SICK BABY TAKEN BY MOTHER
FROM CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Note: The Orange County District Attorney Office will hold a press conference today, May 15, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. at the OCDA Office 401 Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana. Video surveillance will be released.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office Child Abduction Unit and Orange Police Department (OPD) are asking for the public’s help in locating a mother accused of abducting her 10-month-old baby boy from the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). The baby had been admitted to the hospital on May 10, 2008 for a viral asthma infection and was still undergoing treatment. Ida Maribel Torres, 33, Radcliff, KY, took her sick 10-month-old son and her two daughters from CHOC without bringing any medication for the sick baby. Without the proper medical care, the condition of the baby could become serious and life threatening.
At approximately 4:00 p.m. yesterday, May 14, 2008, Ida Torres is accused of taking her sick baby and two daughters, ages 5 and 11, and fleeing CHOC. The children’s father, who was out of the room when Ida Torres took the children, has primary custody of the kids. Ida Torres has secondary custody of the children with rights to visitation every weekend.
Ida Torres can be seen on a hospital surveillance video fleeing the hospital with her three children and an adult male. The adult male is believed to be Ida’s Torres’ cousin, Joel Torres, 33, who arrived in Orange County from Kentucky on May 13, 2008. Ida Torres, a former Fountain Valley resident, moved to Kentucky in January 2008 and is believed to have been living with Joel Torres.
Ida Torres may be driving a 2008 silver Chrysler Sebring with license plate number 6AHA682. The car was rented from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.
An Amber Alert was issued and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has been contact.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Ida Torres and/or her children is asked to call 9-1-1 or contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carol Mona at (714)347-8627.
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