U.S. MARSHALS ANNOUNCE RECOVERY OF 2 ABDUCTED CHILDREN IN MEXICO

FROM: U.S. MARSHALS SERVIE

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Marshals Service investigators along with detectives with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department worked with law enforcement in Mexico to recover two girls, ages 1 and 2, Thursday in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, who had been abducted by their non-custodial parents.

This investigation stems from suspicious circumstances that surround an investigation involving Child Protective Services in Pima County due to injuries sustained by one of the girls. It is alleged that in November 2012 Luis Fernando Palacio, 26, fled to Sonora, Mexico, with his 2-year-old daughter after being ordered to return the child to the mother. In January, Danielle Nicole Lovemore, 22, allegedly kidnapped her 1-year-old daughter, who was in CPS custody.

Based on the Marana Police Department investigation into this incident, a felony arrest warrant was issued on Lovemore, charging her with custodial interference. It was believed Lovemore fled to Mexico in an attempt to reunite with Palacios. At that time, assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service was requested. U.S. Marshals Service investigators began to work around the clock with Mexican law enforcement to locate Lovemore in an attempt to recover the missing children.

Lovemore and the two children were located Thursday at a residence in Hermosillo after being tracked there by Mexican law enforcement. The U.S. State Department’s American Citizens Services are currently caring for the children pending their safe return to the United States. Lovemore was deported to the U.S. Thursday night through the Nogales Port of Entry where Deputy U.S. Marshals took her into custody and transported her to the Pima County Jail.

"International child abduction cases are the most difficult to execute due to conflicting parental agendas and international jurisdictions," said U.S. Marshal for the District of Arizona David Gonzales. "The quick and safe return of these two children was paramount to all of the American and Mexican agencies that worked diligently on this case. Child abduction cases continue to rise and have increased nearly 70 percent since 2009. This increase is primarily attributed to more international couples."