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Girls allegedly abducted by mother three years ago found
| Thursday, Feb 14 2008 11:05 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Feb 15 2008 7:13 AM
Authorities have found two girls who were allegedly abducted by their mother in a custody battle three years ago.
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Kayleen and Mirynda Brown, 7 and 8, and their mother, Tanya Brown, 35, were found Wednesday in a home in a remote mountain community outside Tehachapi, according to the Kern County District Attorney's office. Brown was also found in custody of three older children from a previous marriage, in violation of a separate custody arrangement from another area.
She was arrested on suspicion of felony child abduction. All five children were placed into the care of Child Protective Services. A sixth child, a baby, was left in the care of its father, with whom Brown and the other children were living.
Kayleen and Mirynda's father, Chuck Brown of Taft, said Thursday he was relieved his daughters had been found but frustrated because he hasn't been allowed able to see them yet.
"This is the call I've been waiting for," said the father, who hired a private investigator to track the girls' whereabouts. "I'm very excited for the fact they've been found.
"But it's been three years now, and I want to see my kids."
Brown said he's contacted Child Protective Services to arrange to visit with the girls, but the agency has not responded to his request.
He said the girls are staying at the Jamison Children's Center, an emergency shelter in Bakersfield.
Investigators located Tanya Brown from a tip that came in after the girls' story was aired on "America's Most Wanted."
Kern County Deputy District Attorney Ed Jagels said the girls were not enrolled in school.
The father has already arranged for them to see a therapist.
"This was pretty traumatic for them," he said.