Abducted girl and father found in Mexico
By Garrett Therolf, Times Staff Writer
2:18 PM PDT, March 29, 2007

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A 4-year-old girl and her father who abducted her were found today in Mexico, authorities said.

Josahina Banuelos and her father, Jose Banuelos, were in the custody of authorities in Mexicali and were in good health, said Santa Ana Police Sgt. Lorenzo Carrillo.

Banuelos, 28, fled with Josahina from his Santa Ana home Sunday after fighting, at times violently, with his estranged wife over custody of the girl, Carrillo said.

The father's departure with the girl was in violation of a court order, authorities said. In the days before his capture, he had contacted family members to tell them that the girl was safe but that he was considering suicide, Carrillo said.

The girl was in the custody of Mexican social services and arrangements were being made to return her to her mother in Corona. The father was expected to be extradited to the U.S., Carrillo said.

garrett.therolf@latimes.com

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