On March 19, 2000, Krystal Steadman, age 9, was kidnapped from an apartment complex in Stateline. She was beaten, raped, tortured and murdered. The next day her body was found near Highway 50 below Spooner Summit, after investigators received a tip from a motorist who said he saw someone throw something wrapped in a sheet over the edge of the highway. Father and son suspects Thomas Soria Sr, 40, and Thomas Soria Jr., 19, were arrested and charged with kidnapping, rape and murder charges in Krystal’s death. Soria Jr. entered a guilty plea in the case and agreed to testify against his father. He was sentenced to life in prison. During the trial, the father, Thomas Soria Sr. committed suicide in the Douglas County Jail. Less than a year later, on March 9, 2001, 17 counties in Western Nevada and Eastern California adopted the “Krystal Child Abduction Alert Program” to use the Emergency Alert System to inform the public about abducted children. The program was developed by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada State Emergency Communications Committee, based on guidelines from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It was named for Krystal Steadman and dedicated to her memory. During the same time period, some of the major law enforcement agencies in southern Nevada were not interested in following this "AMBER Alert" approach. Las Vegas broadcasters did not push the issue because the Emergency Alert System needed rebuilding. Then Nevada Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa contacted the Nevada Broadcasters Association. Her office would begin working with the NBA to establish a statewide AMBER Alert Plan.

On April 13, 2001, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office requested an activation of the Western Nevada and Eastern California Emergency Alert System for the first Krystal Alert, after a newborn baby boy was abducted from the Washoe Medical Center in Reno. The baby’s mother, Nancy Saucedo, thought she was giving her son to a hospital worker. Instead, Olga Lopez took the child and fled the hospital. About ten hours after grabbing the baby, Lopez took him to St. Mary’s Hospital for a health check. A staff member recognized both the suspect and the victim from pictures and descriptions broadcast by the local media during the Krystal Alert. She kept Lopez at the hospital while a supervisor called police. Lopez was arrested and the child was recovered unharmed and returned to his mother. In court, Lopez explained that she plotted to save her marriage by convincing her husband that she was pregnant and had given birth to a son. Lopez eventually entered a guilty plea to the kidnapping charges and was sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.

During this period of time, NBA CEO Bob Fisher and EAS Chair Adrienne Abbott began the long process of working with a group of Las Vegas engineers to rebuild the Emergency Alert System. A meeting was held with NCMEC. The long range goal was to develop a statewide AMBER Alert Plan. The NBA Board of Directors became directly involved. And Bob reached out to Lieutenant Governor Lorraine Hunt for her help and assistance. She then got Governor Kenny Guinn involved.

In August, 2001, the Reno Police Department requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California Emergency Alert System for a Krystal Alert issued for two missing boys. The brothers disappeared from the arcade in the Circus Circus Hotel at around 10 PM and their family called police after they couldn’t find the boys. Hotel security found the boys in another family’s hotel room. They had gone there to watch TV with that family’s daughter. No charges were filed.

On August 19, 2002, the California Highway Patrol requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California Emergency Alert System for a Krystal Alert for Nichole Timmons. A male, family friend took the 10-year-old girl from her home in Riverside, California. Investigators requested the activation after learning that he had connections to Fallon, Nevada. A Hawthorne resident who recognized Park and his truck from descriptions broadcast by Reno radio and television stations spotted the suspect, Glenn Park, in Hawthorne. The resident contacted authorities and Walker River Tribal Police officers stopped and arrested Park as he drove through the Schurz Reservation north of Hawthorne. Nichole was safely recovered and reunited with her family. Park was eventually charged with kidnapping, burglary and child endangerment.

On October 7, 2002, the Elko County Sheriff’s Office requested an AMBER Alert activation in Austin, Texas, to find Nicole Hellman, a missing Elko teenager. Elko investigators had received reports that Nicole, who was taken from her foster family’s home in Elko, had been spotted in Austin. They believed that Hellman was taken by her non-custodial mother and her mother’s new boyfriend, who had a record of violence against children. After the alert was issued, an Austin, Texas, resident spotted the suspects in an Austin restaurant. Nicole was recovered safely and reunited with her family. The activation was the first AMBER Alert issued by Austin, TX authorities.

On May 25, 2003, authorities in Salt Lake City, Utah, issued an Alert for 19 month old Acacia Bishop, who was taken from her Salt Lake City home by her grandmother. A family member described Kelley Jean Lodmell as a paranoid schizophrenic who had not been taking her medication. The AMBER Alert was NOT passed onto Eastern Nevada authorities. The next day, Lodmell walked into an Idaho Falls, Idaho, power plant, and told workers that she “lost” her granddaughter in the nearby Snake River. Workers shut down plant’s water intake system and contacted authorities. Authorities searched the river, but did not find the baby’s body. Lodmell has been found competent to stand trial on federal kidnapping charges. (Note: authorities speculate that Lodmell traveled through Eastern Nevada on her way to Idaho Falls.

Soon after the tragic events of 9-11, The NBA Board of Directors held a northern membership meeting in Reno. Governor Guinn, Lieutenant Governor Hunt and State Treasurer Brian Krolicki all attended. The NBA Board of Directors then met with all of the southern Nevada broadcast engineers in early 2002. This was followed by a meeting with the Board and Governor Guinn in Washington, D.C. EAS and AMBER Alert became the number one NBA priority for the next two years. The Attorney General's office through the leadership of Brian Kunzi, helped to coordinate the inclusion of law enforcement personnel from throughout the state to sit down together and write the Nevada AMBER Plan, punching out -- paragraph after paragraph and page after page. Despite enormous pressure being placed on Governor Guinn to begin AMBER Alert in Nevada, his patience and trust in the NBA allowed us to develop the best plan possible, and to travel throughout the state training law enforcement officers and broadcasters -- county by county. At the end of February, 2003, the Board and the Governor again met together in Washington, D.C. Ann Arnold, the head of the Texas Association of Broadcasters and one of the leading advocates for EAS, was our special guest at this meeting. In Carson City, Speaker of the Assembly, Richard Perkins introduced AB 322, co-sponsored by the entire Nevada Assembly. The legislation enacting AMBER Alert, establishing a Review Commission and granting broadcasters immunity, was soon unanimously passed. July 1, 2003, was the date that the statewide AMBER Alert Plan would go into effect. It was dedicated in memory of Krystal Steadman.

On June 3, 2003, Las Vegas Metro issued its first-ever AMBER Alert, even though the program wasn’t set to officially begin until July 1. The activation was made after a parked car was stolen from a strip mall. The owner had left her child in the car, with the car running, while she went shopping for shoes. Authorities were particularly concerned about the child’s welfare in the 104-degree weather. They decided to issue the AMBER Alert after a TV reporter noted that the case met the national criteria for activation. Several hours later, a convenience store worker, who had noticed the car parked outside the store, decided to contact Metro Police when a shopper commented that the running car matched the description of the car in the AMBER Alert. The child was recovered safely, but the suspects have never been found.

On June 6, 2003, the California Highway Patrol in Truckee requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert for Jenette Tamayo, a 9 year old girl taken by force from her home in San Jose, CA. The suspect waited in the garage of the Tamayo home and attacked the girl’s mother as she got out of the car. He grabbed Jenette and left the scene. The incident was recorded on a neighbor’s home security camera. In spite of an intensive search, investigators weren’t able to find any sign of the girl or the suspect. Investigators were concerned that he had left the area, and requested the Nevada activation. However, the suspect remained in the Bay area and after several days, Jenette escaped and walked into a convenience store in East Palo Alto, about nine miles away from her home. Clerks say they recognized her from flyers that were attached to pizza delivery boxes and called police. Jenette led authorities to the suspect who was arrested and charged. David Montiel Cruz was found guilty of kidnapping and rape charges.

On July 1, 2003, the Nevada Statewide AMBER Alert program took effect. The new plan was based on the successful Krystal Alert program. The Nevada Attorney General’s office had successfully provided training for all law enforcement agencies in the use of the AMBER Alert. And the Nevada Broadcasters Association had provided EAS and AMBER training for broadcasters.

On July 4, 2003, Manuel Gehring abducted his children from a fireworks show in New Hampshire. Gehring is arrested eight days later in Gilroy, CA after a nation-wide search. NO AMBER Alert was issued for the children. Gehring told investigators he murdered the children and buried them next to I-80, “maybe somewhere in the Midwest”. Their bodies have never been found. Credit card receipts show Gehring stopped for gas in Winnemucca, NV.

On August 19, 2003, the California Highway Patrol in Susanville requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert for Kyle and Jenna Corcoran. The infant brother and his toddler sister were taken by their father Gregory from their home in Whittier, CA. After a violent argument, Gregory told his estranged wife, the children’s mother, that he wanted to “kill the children”. He put the children in his car and drove to Southern Nevada, taking a long detour because the highway was closed when a bridge washed out in a rainstorm. He checked into a motel in Searchlight where he called a friend who told him about the AMBER Alert. After talking with his friend, he called local police and turned himself in. Authorities recovered the children who were unharmed.

On August 20, 2003, the California Highway Patrol requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert for Hilary and Zitlalit Arteaga, taken by force from their home in Garden Grove, CA, by their father, Luis Arteaga. The children are still missing and believed to be in Mexico with Luis’ family.

On January 5, 2004, the California Highway Patrol in Susanville requested an activation of The Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert for Sandra and Sarah Dilley. The sisters were taken from Eureka, CA by their non-custodial mother. Police say Jimeise Dilley has a history of violence and had been charged with the murder of another of her children. Police say she is accompanied by a girlfriend and two men, described as the women’s “fiancee’s”. Jemieise saw the AMBER Alert activation at a truck stop in Lovelock and turned herself into authorities. The girls were recovered safely and returned to their grandparents.

On March 17, 2004, the Walla Walla County Sheriff and Washington State Police requested an AMBER Alert activation in the Western Nevada/Eastern California and Eastern Nevada EAS Operations areas after receiving a report that an abduction suspect was seen in the Winnemucca area. A Washington State AMBER Alert was issued for 2 year old Crystal Cuanas after she was taken from her home in Walla Walla on the afternoon of March 16. She was taken by force by her father, and investigators feared she had been hurt during the abduction. Fallon radio station KVLV received the activation from the Local Primary station KKOH, and broadcast the information. Two Fallon residents who heard the alert on KVLV called Fallon Police with possible sightings. One woman reported seeing the suspect’s pick up truck in downtown Fallon. Another woman said she saw the suspect and the child in a second hand store. Based on their reports, police located and arrested Ernesto Cuanas without incident and safely recovered Crystal and returned her to her home.

On March 18, 2004, the California Highway Patrol in Susanville requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California area EAS for an AMBER Alert for 5 month old Anthony Pintarelli. The boy was taken from his home near Medford, Oregon by his non-custodial mother, Ashley Ann Garabrant. A relative told authorities that Garabrant had a history of mental instability and violence and had recently been released from a mental institution. Oregon investigators believed she was headed to the area of Yuba City / Marysville, California, but they weren't sure if she would stay there or head in another direction on Interstate 80 . They then requested the Nevada activation. The mother turned herself in to police in Chico, California after hearing the alert. The child was recovered safely, but investigators learned that relatives had exaggerated the woman’s condition and determined that she was not a threat to the child.

On April 7, 2004, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department issued an AMBER Alert for Southern Nevada for five year old Donovan Bingaman after investigators determined that he was with his father, who was suspected of murdering the boy’s mother on 4/6/04. Bingaman remained in the Las Vegas area but in spite of numerous sightings, authorities were not able to find him. A second AMBER Alert was issued on April 10 and shortly afterwards Bingaman, who was staying at a motel, turned himself into authorities. Donovan was safely recovered and Bingaman was charged with murder and kidnapping. Bingaman complained to law enforcement officers that he couldn't even leave his motel room for a smoke because of the AMBER Alert that continued to air on local television stations.

On June 23, 2004, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert after three girls were taken from their Silver Springs home by their estranged father. According to deputies, Walter N. Ball, Jr., broke into the home and shot the girls’ mother in the neck after attacking and beating another woman in her home a block away. The father threatened the 19, 16 and 14 year old girls with a gun, and then ordered them to remove their clothing. He forced them to get into his vehicle and drove them to a secluded park near Lake Lahontan. In early June, one of the girls had filed sexual assault and incest charges against her father. Ball was arrested but released on bail and ordered to stay away from the family. The girls are beaten with a crowbar and sexually assaulted during the six-hour ordeal. Ball, who had been drinking heavily before and during the kidnapping, finally passes out and one of the girls took his gun and shot him in the head. They drove the truck to a main road and flagged down a Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy. The girls told the deputy where to find Ball’s body. No charges were filed against the girls. The mother and one girl were hospitalized as a result of their injuries. Both are expected to recover from their injuries.

On July 1, 2004, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California EAS for an AMBER Alert for Isabel Marie Brown. The 11 month old girl who was taken by Alejandro Lozano-Lozano after a fight between Lozano-Lozano and the baby’s mother, Kimberly Maddox. Maddox and the baby had been riding in Lozano-Lozano’s car before the fight. When Maddox got out of the car, Lozano-Lozano refused to hand over the baby and took off instead. Even though the mother did not want the AMBER Alert issued, investigators were concerned about the baby’s welfare because Lozano-Lozano was not related to the child. About four hours after the AMBER Alert was issued, Lozano-Lozano turned the child over to one of her relatives. He is still at large and faces felony charges in the case.

On December 21, 2004, the California Highway Patrol requested an activation of the Western Nevada/Eastern California Emergency Alert System for an AMBER Alert for a 13-year old Hayward boy who had been taken by his non-custodial father. The father had a history of violence and child abduction. Police were concerned that he would take the child out of state. The boy, Ernesto Ozuna, was found the next morning in Oakland after a resident reported seeing a child sleeping in a car that matched the description of the car in the AMBER Alert. Police surrounded a nearby residence where they thought the father, Jose Ozuna, was hiding. However, they weren’t able to find the father, and they have issued felony warrants for his arrest. The boy was unhurt, and told investigators that his father was headed out of state, until he heard the AMBER Alert on the radio and saw the signs over the 880 freeway. 

On January 30, 2005, the California Highway Patrol issued a statewide AMBER Alert for 6 year old Okira Hernandez, a missing Rialto girl.  At approximately 10:30 PM, Okira's mother had stopped at a friend’s home and left her daughter sleeping in her car while she went inside the house. The keys were in the car and the engine was running. When she came out of the home, the car and the child were gone. She notified authorities in Rialto who asked for the California AMBER Alert. Several hours later a vehicle similar to the Hernandez car was seen on Highway 215. Another report put the car northbound on 395. Based on both reports, at 3:25 AM on January 31, 2005, The California Highway Patrol contacted the Nevada Highway Patrol in Reno and requested issue a statewide AMBER Alert in Nevada. NHP Reno contacted KKOH, the Northern Nevada LP-1 station which issued the activation at approximately 3:39 AM. NHP Reno also contacted NHP in Las Vegas and requested that they issue an AMBER Alert for Southern Nevada. The NHP Las Vegas office sent out a TRAK notification, mass faxed their media contacts and requested NdoT to activate their programmable road signs. However, NHP Las Vegas did NOT issue an EAS activation. Radio and television stations around the state carried the alert information. At approximately 8:00 AM on January 30, 2005, the California Highway Patrol cancelled the AMBER alerts because Rialto Police had found the vehicle and recovered the child safely. Police say the suspect apparently dumped the car when he or she realized there was a child in the back seat. The suspect has not been identified. 

On March 2, 2005, 12 year old Juana Martinez was taken from her home in Stockton, California, by Jose Tomas. The 21 year old man threatened the girl and her parents before leaving the area, at approximately 4:45 PM. Stockton Police asked California Highway Patrol for an AMBER Alert activation. Following their new policy, the CHP made the activation through the National Weather Service. After several hours with no sign of the child or the suspect, the CHP extended the alert to Nevada. The Nevada Highway Patrol issued an AMBER Alert for the Western Nevada/Eastern California Operational Area first, and then extended the alert statewide early in the morning of March 3, 2005. The alert was cancelled after Tomas and Juana walked into a store in Tracy, California on the afternoon of March 3. Police returned Juana to her parents and arrested Tomas.
 

On July 11, 2005, the Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff’s Office requested activation of the Nevada AMBER Alert for two children, Bryan and JenniferCervantes. Officers issued the request after investigating a shooting at the home of the children’s grandparents in Queen Creek, Arizona. Officers found the bodies of the grandparents and the children’s uncle, but no sign of the children. The children’s mother discovered the bodies when she returned home from work. Investigators theorized that the children were taken by their father, Rodrigo Cervantes Zavala, after he murdered the adults. While they thought he might be headed to Mexico, they were also concerned that he would travel to Las Vegas. On Monday, July 17, 2005, Mexican authorities located Cervantes Zavala in Puerto Vallarta and the children were found in another community. The children were unharmed and were returned to their mother in Arizona.


On July 23, 2005, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office requested a statewide activation of the Nevada AMBER Alert for an eight year old girl who was abducted from her home in Fernley. Lydia Bethany-Rose Rupp was last seen at 5:30 am when her mother went to work at a local supermarket. The child was taken by Fernando Aguerro, who had been renting a room from Lydia’s mother. He also took her clothes, his clothing, Lydia’s identification papers and pictures, and the mother’s identification papers. Authorities believe he left the area around midmorning, but the mother did not report her child missing until 11:30 in the night. Lydia’s mother admitted that Aguerro had been paying a significant amount of attention to her daughter and that they had argued about that and his interest in returning to San Diego. Aguerro was a convicted sex offender who was not registered in Lyon County. Although Lyon County, through Nevada Highway Patrol, requested activation of the AMBER Alert in California, the CHP activation was apparently not made until the afternoon of Sunday, July 24th. In the meantime, authorities tracked Aguerro to Tijuana, Mexico, through phone calls he made to relatives in Las Vegas and San Diego, but authorities were unable to locate him there. Given the evidence of his presence in Mexico, Lyon County investigators deactivated the AMBER Alert in Nevada on July 26th, but kept it in effect in California in case Aguerro crossed back into California. On Friday, July 29, Lyon County Sheriff’s investigators confirmed that Aguerro had been taken into custody in Ensenada. Mexican officials worked with US authorities to return Lydia to her family. Aguerro remains in custody in Tijuana where he faces charges that could lead to a 38 years in prison. He will have to serve that time before the Mexican government will consider returning him to Nevada.