Eight children allegedly abducted from Arkansas foster homes were found across the country Saturday with their biological mother.
Trista Fullerton allegedly smuggled six of her children to northern California, where they were discovered by police in a parking lot around 12:30 a.m., according to New York Post. A witness of Fullerton’s “bizarre behavior” reported the sighting to police via 911 call, authorities said.
8 children abducted from Arkansas foster homes by biological mother, smuggled across the country https://t.co/D8dt3EvU4w pic.twitter.com/yzt2Xqhu7t
— New York Post (@nypost) October 23, 2023
Fullerton allegedly transported her children through multiple states in a Dodge pickup truck with an Arkansas license plate, Anderson police said, according to the outlet. The trash-filled truck was found parked in the lot during a welfare check of the 36-year-old suspect.
An active warrant for Fullerton’s arrest in Arkansas was discovered by police, the outlet reported. She was wanted for allegedly abducting her eight children from their foster homes after losing custody of them, police said. (RELATED: ‘My Kids Could Have Been Kidnapped’: Video Captures Man Entering Girl’s’ Bedroom As Family Slept)
Fullerton’s other two children were located at a Cottonwood area home with the help of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office after the suspect was interviewed by investigators about their whereabouts, according to the outlet. It is unknown how long Fullerton was with her children during the alleged abduction.
Fullerton was booked in Shasta County jail because of the warrant, police said. She also had a criminal history of domestic battery charges, the outlet reported. The children were released to Shasta County Children and Family Services to be returned to their Arkansas guardians.