The alleged kidnapping of a 3-year-old Temecula child reported missing on April 14 was solved in a single day and the child returned safely home, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department said in a press release. A 52-year-old woman has been charged with kidnapping and her bail set at $100,000.
“On Thursday, April 14, 2022, at 10:53 a.m., Southwest Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to the 29600 block of Solana Way, in the City of Temecula, regarding a 3-year-old child who was missing," Sgt. Frank Tiburzio said in the release.
A Temecula father had just called in a missing person’s report, and the Sheriff's Department learned that his vehicle and car keys were also missing from his place of residence, according to the release. As a result, investigators broadcast a description of both the vehicle and the missing child to surrounding law-enforcement agencies as an extensive search ensued.
Initially, a search of the surrounding areas that included a department bloodhound failed to locate the child, according to the release, but that changed at 1:45 p.m., when a Southwest Station deputy identified the vehicle traveling on Sage Road in the Aguanga area. Although the driver refused to pull over for deputies, the car was later stopped in the 32100 block of Temecula Parkway in the City of Temecula, the release said.
According to the release, when deputies approached the vehicle they found the child safely inside. They arrested the driver, whom they identified as 52-year-old Jessica Emily Reichert. Authorities do not believe that Reichert is related to the child, the report said. She was booked at Cois Byrd Detention Center for kidnapping a child under 14 years of age, vehicle theft and other related charges.
This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to call Sgt. Tiburzio at 951-696-3043 or Investigator K. Horkel at 951-696-3089.