Amber Alert out for 3 kids after mother found dead
HUMBOLDT PARK | Police looking for father of 2 of the children

April 22, 2008Recommend (7)

Police issued an Amber Alert for three children who were missing after their mother was found dead Monday with a plastic bag over her head in her home in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Police also are seeking the the father of two of the children, Benito O. Casanova, 32, who police believe picked up the children around 2:30 p.m. Friday from Yates Elementary School, 1839 N. Richmond, just after classes let out. The children have not been seen since.

» Click to enlarge image An Amber Alert was issued Monday for the Casanova siblings -- Fernando, 11, Karla, 7, and Oscar, 6.
(NBC5)



"They must be scared," Martia Ortiz told WMAQ-Channel 5.

She added she is praying for "the safety of these kids."

Casanova also was described as the husband or boyfriend of the dead woman, Sophia Garcia, 30.

Her body was discovered about noon in her residence in the 1700 block of North Harding Avenue after concerned family members who had not heard from Garcia called police, said News Affairs Officer JoAnn Taylor. Her death is being treated as a homicide, Taylor said, but the cause and time of death had not been determined.

The three missing children, according to the Amber Alert, are Oscar Casanova, 6; Karla Casanova, 7; and Fernando Casanova, 11.

Oscar is 4 feet tall and weighs 60 pounds, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Karla is 4-foot-1 and weighs 75 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Fernando Casanova is 5 feet tall and weighs 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes -- all three are described as white Hispanic, the alert said.

Benito Casanova was described as a white Hispanic male, 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, according to the alert.

Casanova may be driving a silver or gray 2002 Dodge Dakota with Illinois license plate number 86196HB. One of the vehicle's plates is missing.

Sun-Times staff reports
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