A Texas woman has been arrested in Illinois after allegedly attempting to kidnap two children on behalf of their father and take them to Mexico, according to authorities.
The suspect, Cindy Sanchez, 47, faces two counts each of kidnapping by deceit or enticement, unlawful restraint, and child abduction – parent without custody, according to court records from Illinois’ 16th Judicial Circuit.
The disturbing incident unfolded Thursday afternoon in Aurora, Illinois, a city about 40 miles west of Chicago. Police said they received a call at around 3:30 p.m. from a family on Rosewood Avenue who feared a possible kidnapping was in progress.
When officers arrived, they learned that two children, ages 11 and 13, had been staying with relatives. A woman, later identified as Sanchez, appeared at the residence claiming she had been sent on behalf of the children’s mother to take them out of state. The family became alarmed, and soon after, it was discovered that the children had been taken without the mother’s permission.
Authorities quickly enlisted the help of the Chicago Police Department to track the suspect and the missing children. Investigators were able to locate Sanchez and the two juveniles later that day at Midway International Airport, Chicago’s second-busiest airport. The children were safely recovered and unharmed, while Sanchez was taken into custody.
Further investigation revealed that Sanchez, a resident of Fort Worth, Texas, is a relative of the children’s father. Police allege the father, who does not have legal custody of the children, paid Sanchez to abduct them and bring them to him in Mexico, crossing through the Texas border.
In a statement, the Aurora Police Department explained:
“It was learned the children’s father, who does not have legal custody of the children, paid the suspect to bring the children to him in Mexico via the Texas border.”
Sanchez was booked into the Kane County Adult Justice Center following her arrest. She appeared in court Friday, where a judge ordered her release. By Saturday morning, she was no longer in custody. Her next court appearance is scheduled for September 18, where she is expected to face a status hearing on the charges.
The children’s mother told investigators she never authorized Sanchez or anyone else to pick up her children, underscoring the deceit that allegedly underpinned the attempted abduction.
The case highlights the growing concerns around parental abductions, which can involve relatives or associates attempting to remove children from lawful guardians, often across state or national borders. Such cases can become especially complicated when international jurisdictions are involved, as authorities must coordinate across multiple agencies.
While Sanchez has been released from custody pending her next court date, the case remains under investigation. Police said their primary concern remains the safety and well-being of the children, who have since been reunited with their mother.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the risks children face in custody disputes and the lengths some individuals may go to bypass legal restrictions.
