Possible Sighting Of Abducted Infant, Missing Mom Reported In Sierra County: Sheriff's Office

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – Detectives are following up today on a lead in Sierra County of a possible sighting in a suspected parental abduction case of a mother and her baby boy missing from Sonoma County, according to authorities.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday by the California Highway Patrol for 7-month-old Henry Massey, reportedly snatched Sunday from his crib at his grandmother's Guerneville house by his mother, Hannah Ruth Ashley, 35.

The grandmother, the child's legal custodian, called authorities Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. reporting the baby was missing from his bed and that she believed her daughter, Ashley, was involved, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office deputies said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said today that the Sierra County tip came in Monday at about 7:30 p.m. from a citizen and is considered credible, but did not have specifics on the caller's information or the involved town.

Little Henry was transferred by Child Protective Services to his grandmother's care as Ashley has a purported history of drug and substance abuse and mental health issues, said Crum, although he could not provide details if the custodial transfer was at the boy's birth or after a reported incident.

Sheriff's officials said on Monday, in a "be on the lookout" alert, that the boy was not believed to be in danger, and there was never a threat of violence toward the infant.

"There has never been a threat of violence towards the child, and the child is not believed to be in danger, however the grandmother has legal custody," the agency said. "During recent child visitations, it was reported that Ashley made threats to take her child back."

The CHP described Henry as white male, who is 26 inches tall and 15 pounds with brown hair and gray eyes. Ashley is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 125 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes.

CHP Officer Juan Leon said the sheriff's office requested an Amber Alert on Monday to broaden the search for Ashley and the infant after investigators exhausted search efforts in the Guerneville and Sonoma County area.

A parent who abducts a child often goes to a relative or stays in the local area, Leon said, however, Crum noted he did not know what Ashley's connection might be to Sierra County, which borders Nevada.

Ashley is reportedly driving a silver Subaru Forester with California license plate No. 5JKZ255, and anyone who spots her or the vehicle is asked to call 911 or Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dispatch at 707-565-2121.

Previous coverage:

• Amber Alert Now Issued For Baby Snatched From Crib In Guerneville
• Child Missing From Crib In Guerneville; Officials Seeking Mother In Possible Abduction

--Bay City News contributed to this report/Images via Sonoma County Sheriff, Missing Persons Of America