Grandma arrested after kidnapping 7-year-old granddaughter in Highland, deputies say

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Deputies said Jasmine Felix (left) was reunited with her parents after her grandmother, Teresa Arias (right), kidnapped her from her parents' Highland home on Jan. 19, 2016.
Deputies said Jasmine Felix (left) was reunited with her parents after her grandmother, Teresa Arias (right), kidnapped her from her parents' Highland home on Jan. 19, 2016.
KABC-KABC

HIGHLAND, Calif. (KABC) -- A grandmother who kidnapped her 7-year-old granddaughter from the child's Highland home has been taken into custody, according to sheriff's deputies.

Jasmine Felix was left in the care of her grandmother, 63-year-old Teresa Arias, at her parents' home on Victoria Avenue on Tuesday.

When Jasmine's parents returned from work at about 6 p.m., Jasmine and Arias were nowhere to be found.

San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said Arias called Jasmine's parents about an hour later saying she took her granddaughter and was never going to bring her back.

Officials said shortly after putting out the word about Jasmine and Arias, they began to receive tips about them being in the Pomona area.

Jasmine's parents distributed flyers in the Pomona area, and the owner of Samo's Burgers on South Garey Avenue recognized Jasmine and Arias as two customers who were in his restaurant earlier on Wednesday.

The man began driving in the area looking for Jasmine and Arias. He found them at an apartment complex on East Phillips Boulevard and immediately called police.

Officers found Jasmine and Arias walking on Phillips Boulevard near Gary Avenue. Jasmine was quickly reunited with her family and Arias was questioned by detectives.

Arias was arrested for kidnapping and is being held on $1 million bond at the West Valley Detention Center.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Highland City detectives at (909)425-9793.