Calif. mom finds missing children using Facebook (after 15 years) [View All]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California mother whose two children were reported missing 15 years ago has tracked them down in Florida using Facebook.

The children's father, Faustino Utrera, took off with them in 1995 when they were ages 2 and 3, said San Bernardino Deputy District Attorney Kurt Rowley. The mother had found her daughter's Facebook profile after searching for her name on the social networking site in March, Rowley said.

An official said Saturday that the now 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy have been placed in the custody of the state of Florida.

"You can imagine the feelings she's having, not seeing her children for so many years and knowing they've bonded with another family," Rowley said about the mother. "But at the same time they're almost within her grasp."

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20100606/D9G5G0800.html