Fontana mother and 2 young children found safe after their disappearance prompts urgent search

FONTANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A Fontana woman and her two young children have been found safe after their disappearance prompted an urgent search, authorities said Thursday.

Elizabeth Castrejon and her children were located in Highland "and are doing well," the Fontana Police Department said in a statement. The agency thanked Highland police "and everyone for your assistance."

In an earlier statement, the Fontana police said they were "actively investigating a critical missing persons case" involving the 33-year-old Castrejon and her children, 9-year-old Athena Mendoza and 2-year-old Avery Martinez.

Castrejon recently relocated to Fontana and has no local family or friends, police said, adding that she may be dealing with "an undiagnosed mental health condition."

The mother left her home near the intersection of Wabash and Palmetto Avenue Wednesday night on foot, without her phone or wallet, and was last seen pushing her children in a wagon, similar to the one shown in a photo released by investigators, a news release said at the time.