ORLANDO, Fla. – The 2-year-old Orlando boy who was taken from his home at gunpoint by his mother and a man late Tuesday was found safe Wednesday afternoon in DeLand, according to Orlando police.
The boy's mother, Sugey Perez Diaz, 33, was taken into custody on a warrant for armed burglary and aggravated assault, police said.
Florida authorities issued an Amber Alert Tuesday morning for Jenzell Cintron Perez, who has last been seen late in the 1900 block of South Conway Road in Orlando.
Family members told News 6 that Diaz and a man forced their way into an apartment and took Jenzell from his stepmother at gunpoint. Police later said another woman was with the pair. It's unclear if they will face the same charges.
"I was in my home sleeping with my two babies when this crazy woman went into my house, kicked the door and took baby Jenzell from me," Stephanie Maldonado said. "She told me if I moved, she'd kill me."
Jenzell's father was not home at the time, police said.
Stepmother Stephanie Maldonado, says she’s worried about 2-year-old Jenzell Cintron Perez’s safety and wants him back IMMEDIATELY @news6wkmg LATEST STARTING AT 6 pic.twitter.com/mcJETAIF6K
— Justin Campbell (@JCampbellNews6) October 9, 2019
Diaz and the man drove away with Jenzell in a silver Lexus SUV and possibly headed toward Ormond Beach, according to police.
Police had said the boy could be with Diaz, the unknown man and another woman, Angelica Melendez, 23.
U.S. marshals located the mother and son around 1 p.m. at the Enclave at Pine Oaks Apartments in DeLand, city spokesman Chris Graham said. Diaz is in DeLand police custody, and she will be taken to the Volusia County Jail, Graham said. Diaz will have to be extradited back to Orange County.
Jenzell is in good health and will be reunited with loved ones, the U.S. Marshals Service said.
Police said Diaz has a minor criminal history, but she doesn't have a violent past.
Orlando Chief of Police Orlando Rolon said, however, that the means in which Jenzell was abducted is "concerning to us."
The detective said the DCF has received reports of injuries to the child in the past, but authorities said nothing was ever substantiated.
The detective said the Amber Alert was issued about five hours after Jenzell was abducted because police were working active leads about Diaz's whereabouts and didn't want to jeopardize the investigation.
Orlando police said they are also trying to find out why the Amber Alert did not automatically send alerts to cellphones.
According to the timeline provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Orlando police contacted FDLE at 12:32 a.m. regarding an Amber Alert for Jenzell, which was authorized at 12:50 a.m.
"For investigative reasons, OPD requested FDLE to stand by," FDLE said in an email.
OPD requested the Amber Alert be activated at 3:53 a.m. and media alerts were sent to news media at 4:27 a.m.
A wireless emergency alert was not sent to cellphones with the Amber Alert until 11:05 a.m., again for "investigative reasons," according to the FDLE timeline.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children assisted the Orlando Police Department in its investigation.
"Thank you to the public, media and all the partners who helped with this investigation. We could not do it without you," OPD Lt. Wanda Miglio said.
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