East Palo Alto Woman Accused Of Kidnapping, Elder Abuse

MILLBRAE, CA – A man and woman are accused of taking an elderly woman without permission from a Peninsula care home this week, but were eventually found about 90 miles away with her, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

According to sheriff's Det. Salvador Zuno, at around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday the unidentified 88-year-old woman was taken from A&C Health Care Service on Mateo Avenue in Millbrae. Two family members allegedly grabbed the woman and took off.

"The family members did not have permission to take the victim from the home," Zuno said in a news release.

Sheriff's detectives identified the suspects' vehicle as a 2016 silver Chevy Impala and tracked it down to a location in Stockton – about 90 miles northeast of the care home, according to Zuno. East Palo Alto resident Cheryl Mills, 60, and 56-year-old Eric Mills of Stockton were found with the victim around 9 p.m. Wednesday, he said.

"With the assistance of the Stockton Police Department both suspects and the victim were located," he said. "The victim was found unharmed and as a precaution was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated."

Though it's not clear why the duo allegedly took the woman, they were both arrested on charges of kidnapping and elder abuse, according to sheriff's officials and jail booking records. They were also both taken to the Maguire Correctional Facility and booked in lieu of $100,000 bail.

"Investigators are working with Adult Protective Services and other family members to best care for the victim," Zuno added. "This case remains under investigation."

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to call Detective Gaby Chaghouri at (650) 259-2314.

Jail booking photos of Cheryl Mills, left, and Eric Mills, right, courtesy of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office