California Highway Patrol issues Amber Alert for toddler girls after mother is found dead

The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert on Wednesday for two toddlers believed to have been abducted by their father after their mother was found dead.

Three-year-old Arya Maldonado and 2-year-old Alana Maldonado were reported missing from Hanford in California's Central Valley on Monday.

On Tuesday evening, the Kings County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to conduct a wellness check on a woman in Hanford. When they arrived, police found the woman had been shot dead, according to a news release from the sheriff's office.

A Kings County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Paste BN on Wednesday that it was not releasing the victim's name.

Authorities believe the girls may be with their father, 23-year-old Jonathan Maldonado Cruz. The father is believed to be armed and dangerous and is suspected of the killing. The Kings County Sheriff's Office also reports that Cruz may be fleeing with the toddlers to Mexico.

Cruz weighs about 215 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes, according to the Amber Alert. He was last seen driving a gray Hyundai Elantra with the California license plate number 8LZD084.

Arya weighs about 25 pounds, is 3 feet tall, and Alana weighs about 20 pounds and is 2 1/2 feet tall, according to the Amber Alert. Both girls have brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who spots Cruz, the Maldonado sisters or the vehicle should call 911 immediately.

This story has been updated to add new information.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.