Police cancel Amber Alert for 2 Utah children, found in New Mexico

An Amber Alert for Cynthia Montoya, 3, and her 11-month-old sister, Marae, issued Thursday out of Clinton City, Utah, has been canceled Friday when the girls were found safe in Gallup, New Mexico. Location not provide, circa 2016 | Composite image with Amber Alert photos, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An Amber Alert issued for two Utah children Thursday night has been canceled after the children believed to have been abducted were found safe Friday morning.

Clinton City Police began looking for 3-year-old Cynthia Montoya and her 11-month-old sister, Marae, on Thursday afternoon after reports came in that they’d been abducted by their parents, Christopher Montoya and Monica Martinez.

Both children are in custody of the state and were taken by their parents Thursday without permission, according to authorities. However, at around 3 p.m. Thursday, the parents showed up at the children’s residence in Clinton while allegedly under the influence of a controlled substance, according to police, and took the children from the residence.

An Amber Alert was issued in the case and, when Chris Montoya and Monica Martinez checked into a Motel 6 in Gallup, New Mexico, they were recognized by a clerk, police said Friday.

The clerk called police and the two small children were rescued at the motel. The parents were subsequently arrested.

“The children were endangered as the parents are believed under the influence of a controlled substance, have mental health issues, have violent tendencies, and are transient,” police said when the Amber Alert was issued. “They are unable to provide proper care for the children.”

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