AMBER Alert for 2 Kids Taken By Dad in Ithaca

An AMBER alert has been issued in a child abduction in Ithaca, NY yesterday afternoon.

Leonard Thorne, 38, disappeared with his two children rather than turn them over to Family Court—which had ordered them removed from his custody due to his substance abuse and history of child abuse and neglect.

His daughter Violet is two years old, and his son Brian is four.

Here’s the full text of the AMBER Alert:

The Tompkins County Sheriffs Office has activated the New York State AMBER Alert and is investigating a child abduction that occurred near Heron Drive, in Ithica, NY at about 4:00 PM on12/23/2014.

Violet Thorne is a White female, approximately 2 years 6 months old with short, blonde hair and blue eyes. She is approximately 3 feet tall and weighs about 30 pounds.

The CHILD, Brian Thorne is a White male, approximately 4 years old with short, blonde hairand blue eyes. He is approximately 3 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 40 pounds.

The SUSPECT, Leonard Thorne is a White male, approximately 38 years old with blonde hairand blue eyes. He is approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs about 165 pounds.

Children have been removed from suspect’s custody by Family Court due to suspect’s substance abuse and child abuse and neglect history. Suspect has failed to surrender the children and has taken them to unknown location. Suspect is believed to be in the Ithaca or surrounding area.

Anyone with any information on this abduction is asked to call the Tompkins County Sheriffs Office at (866)N Y S-AMBER or dial 911 to provide information on a report or sighting.