Victims, suspect were related in Tulare County kidnapping, says DA's office
Dec 19, 2024
VISALIA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Prosecutors have revealed the link between the two children kidnapped in Tulare County earlier this week and one of the suspects, detailing that one of the suspects was biologically related to the victims.
According to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the two suspects allegedly involved entered the Earlimart home on Monday where the two young children (aged five and six years old) were staying, and took them. That prompted an Amber Alert to be issued early Monday morning for Fresno County, Kings County and Tulare County.
3 arrested after children kidnapped from Earlimart, deputies say
The DA's office reports that one of the suspects, 29-year-old Makenzie Morrelli, was the children's biological mother and her custody rights had been terminated. Prosecutors say she went into the home of the children's legal guardian at around 12:30 a.m. and took the two children with help from another person. The other person, 28-year-old Kayla Williams, helped remove the children from the home, prosecutors add.
Officials say that Makenzie Morrelli gave herself up to law enforcement at around 4 a.m. and the children were returned safely.
The DA's office says Morrelli and Williams are charged with two felony counts of kidnapping, one count of felony first-degree burglary, and two felony counts of child stealing. Morrelli has already pleaded not guilty at an arraignment - whereas Williams' arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 9.
A third person, 57-year-old David Steen, was also arrested in connection with the kidnapping. The Tulare County District Attorney's Office confirmed to YourCentralValley.com that David Steen was no longer being charged in connection with this incident.