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SALT LAKE CITY — A 3-year-old girl was found safe in Hawaii Tuesday after an Amber Alert was issued when she was allegedly taken by her mother, who police say does not have custodial rights and had allegedly threatened to harm her.
Juliette Cuadra was found safe about two hours after the Amber Alert was issued Tuesday afternoon, Salt Lake police reported. Her mother, Shantel Caudra, 26, was taken into custody by the Kauai Police Department after a flight the two were on landed on the Hawaiian island.
Juliette's father lives in Hawaii and her mother in Murray, according to Salt Lake police. The mother convinced the father, Robert Cuadra, to allow Juliette to stay with her from Oct. 24 until Nov. 1. But on Nov. 1, she told the father that she would not be returning the girl and made mention of harming the child, police said.
Shantel Cuadra on Oct. 24 "committed significant domestic violence or assault on (Robert Cuadra's) current significant other in the presence of two minor children, including the minor child in this matter" and "made several threats of violence toward (Robert Cuadra)’s current significant other and third parties including a minor child," according to court records.
"Significant evidence was provided that (Shantel Cuadra) committed violent acts against third parties, at least some of which occurred in the presence of the parties' minor child."
The initial Amber Alert indicated Juliette and her mother were last seen Monday night in Murray driving a rental car. By Tuesday afternoon, police said the car had been located but there was no sign of Juliette or her mother.
But flight records revealed Shantel Cuadra had boarded a flight to Hawaii, which enabled authorities in Utah to coordinate with authorities there before the plane landed around 5:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, said Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking.
"They met her at the gate and took her into custody there," he said.
The detective didn't immediately know why Shantel Cuadra boarded the flight or what charges may potentially be sought against her. But he said the woman had shown "evasiveness" worthy of issuing an Amber Alert.
"The important thing is that we have the child safe and in custody, and we know where mom is, and dad has some closure at this point knowing his child (is) safe," Wilking said.
The girl's father had recently flown to Utah from Hawaii to ask the courts to intervene on his behalf, according to police.
Utah state court records indicate Shantel Cuadra attempted to file a protective order against Robert Cuadra on Oct. 27. But the motion was dismissed Nov. 14 after the judge found "the allegations with the evidence presented are not sufficient for the entry of the protective order," according to court records.
In a separate motion filed by Robert Cuadra on Friday, a judge ruled that "the allegations rise to the level of irreparable harm to the child, and the threat to the child outweighs the damage to the respondent (Shantel Cuadra)" and ordered the girl be returned to her father.
The judge noted in the ruling that "the court has grave concern as to the physical safety of the minor child," court records state.
Contributing: Ben Lockhart
