The San Jose Police Department is searching for a woman suspected of kidnapping her 2-year-old daughter.
SJPD found Tayana, the kidnapped girl, on Thursday afternoon. The young girl was at a relative’s house in Oakland. The mother, Crystal Mendez, has no legal custody of their daughter.
“We have located Tayana. She is safe and with our officers. We are coordinating her return to San Jose,” police wrote on social media.
The mother, Mendez, is still at large.
According to the police, Tayana was kidnapped on Wednesday from the home of Mendez’s ex-husband who has legal custody.
The ex-husband is not Tayana’s biological father. Police said the biological father has a history of drug and legal issues.
Mendez has ties to the Tenderloin District in San Francisco and is a “heavy drug user,” police Sgt. Christian Camarillo said. Investigators were concerned that Mendez was under the influence of drugs when she allegedly kidnapped Tayana.
Officials said Mendez does not have a residence to return to and is most likely roaming the streets.
If seen or located, please call 9-1-1.
