Children Abducted From Foster Mother In Sylmar

SYLMAR, CA — Authorities are asking for help finding two young girls who were allegedly kidnapped from their foster mother in the Sylmar area.

Los Angeles County Sheriff' Department detectives believe the girls' mother and an unknown man forcibly abducted them from their foster mother on the way to a doctor's appointment at the Olive View Medical Center Thursday afternoon. The girls, 4 and 7, are believed to be headed to Mexico with their mother Angela Doroteo, 42, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Alejandra Parra.

Doroteo and the male suspect allegedly shoved the foster mother to the ground and pulled the children out of her vehicle, Parra said. They placed the children in a dark- gray Chevrolet Malibu that fled the scene, authorities said. The alleged kidnapping happened in the 14400 block of Olive View Drive shortly before 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The car was recovered a short time later not far from Olive View Medical Center, though the children and the suspect were not found. Authorities said Doroteo had previously lost her parental rights, but they did not say why.

Doroteo is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a face mask.

The 7-year-old girl is Hispanic, 4 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs 80 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a teal sweatshirt, dark jeans and cowboy boots.

The children's names were not released.

Anyone with information the childrens' or suspects' whereabouts was asked to contact the LASD Major Crimes Bureau Hotline at 562-946-7893. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service contributed to this report.