Mom wanted in kidnapping her two children near Mankato - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

MANKATO, Minn. (KTTC) -- Authorities in Blue Earth County have issued a nationwide alert and are searching for a young mother accused of kidnapping her two children from a foster home where all three had been staying.

Sheriff's Capt. Rich Murry says Reina Gandarilla, 21, kidnapped her two-year-old son Isiaah and 4-month-old daughter Iyanna at a rural family foster care facility sometime in the afternoon hours of Tuesday.

"Custody of the children had been transferred to Blue Earth County originally in October of this year," said Capt. Murry, in a statement to reporters. "They had been placed in foster care at that time. The order was modified in November whereby Reina and the children were placed in the same foster home utilizing a program called "Whole Family Foster Care." The goal of the program is to eventually transition the family to living together again on their own."

A felony warrant has now been issued for Gandarilla's arrest on a charge of Depriving Another of Custodial or Parental Rights. 

While her location is unknown, sheriff's investigators believe Gandarilla may be heading to Chicago, where she has relatives.  She does not have her own vehicle, so authorities don't know who might be helping her. Capt. Murry says deputies have been checking her known acquaintances and a number of leads in the Mankato area. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Blue Earth County authorities at (507) 387-5601.