Father arrested, child recovered following Amber Alert search

FRESNO — A statewide Amber Alert over the weekend for a missing 10-month-old Fresno boy led to the arrest Sunday of the child’s father and the safe recovery of the toddler, both of whom were located in Wasco in Kern County.

Edgar Rodriguez Ramos, 19, turned himself in to Wasco police late Sunday night and surrendered the child to authorities, said Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims. Ramos took his son Elijah Rivas on Saturday from the home of Rivas’ mother Lupe Bueno, who resides in the Fresno suburb of Riverdale.

Mims announced Rivas’ return to his mother’s arms on Monday, and explained that Bueno  had issued a restraining order against Ramos, which limits visits with his infant son.

Mims described the events on Saturday that led to Rivas’ kidnapping and the triggering of the statewide alert.

“He became upset,” Mims said of Ramos. “It was cold that night. They were outside and talking and Lupe went inside the house to get warm blankets for the baby and while she did that, Edgar Rodriguez Ramos took the baby in the car and left the area.”

Mims added that Ramos left his vehicle at his parents’ house in Wasco and briefly moved from place to place with the help of some of his friends in the neighborhood.

However, after Ramos contacted his family about the situation on Sunday, Ramos’ mother urged him to contact the sheriff’s authorities, which eventually led to him turning himself in.