Riverside Police Urge Public to Help Find Missing 3-Year-Old and His Mother

Riverside police are searching for a missing 3-year-old boy who may have been abducted by his mother, who may be homeless.

Elias Cruz was last seen wearing an orange shirt, camouflage pants and a green beanie hat. His mother, Samantha Hernandez, is a 25-year-old Latina who is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds. She has red hair and green eyes and was last seen wearing a gray jacket and blue jeans.

The mother and child were seen near Lake Street and Randolph Street, and police said they believe she may be walking to the bottom of the Santa Ana River. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Riverside Public Safety Communications Center at (951) 354-2007 and reference report number 230003408. Outside of Riverside, those with information can contact a local police department.

This is a developing story, and police are asking for the public’s help in locating Elias and his mother. It is unclear why Hernandez may have taken her son, but police are asking anyone with information to come forward. It is important that the child is found as soon as possible, and authorities are doing everything they can to locate him.