AMBER Alert for 2 toddlers after mother found dead in Central Valley home: Sheriff

Update: Authorities announced on Thursday that the young girls were found alive and safe. Their father was arrested. Click here to read more.

An AMBER Alert has been issued for two missing girls out of Hanford in California's Central Valley Tuesday, the California Highway Patrol said. Officials said the two girls were allegedly taken by their father, 23-year-old Jonathan Alexis Maldonado-Cruz, and may be headed to Mexico.

The two girls were identified as 3-year-old Arya Maldonado and 2-year-old Alana Maldonado. 

Both girls have brown eyes and brown hair. Arya is 3 feet and 25 pounds, while Alana is 2 feet 5 inches and weighs around 20 pounds.

The Hanford man also has brown eyes, but black hair. He stands at 5 feet 9 inches and weighs around 215 pounds.

Maldonado-Cruz should be considered armed and dangerous, officials said. He is considered a suspect in the mother's death.

Timeline:

Officials said Kings County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to a home in 11500 block Fourth Place in Hanford around 4 p.m. Tuesday for a welfare check of an adult woman. 

When officers arrived, they found a woman, currently identified as the children's mother, fatally shot. 

Deputies said they believe Maldonado-Cruz left the residence around 1 a.m. Tuesday with his daughters in a gray 2020 Hyundai Elantra with the license plate number 8LZD084. 

What we don't know:

It's unclear what the children and Maldonado-Cruz were wearing at the time of their disappearance. 

Officials said Maldonado may be en route to Mexico. 

What you can do:

Officials say anyone with information about the abduction or the whereabouts of the children or Maldonado-Cruz is asked to contact Det. Tyler Haener at (559) 670-9320 or (559) 852-2818, or Kings County Sheriff's dispatch at (559) 852-2720. 

Informers can also anonymously share with authorities at (559) 852-4554.

The Source: Kings County Sheriff's Office

Crime and Public SafetyCentral ValleyNewsCalifornia Highway Patrol