Police seek help locating mom suspected of taking twins in Irvine

IRVINE, Calif. (KABC) -- Irvine police officers are asking for the public's help to find a mother suspected of abducting her twin children.

Shahrzad Talieh, 45, of Irvine, is suspected of taking her children from her estranged husband. The couple are in the process of divorcing and share custody of the twins.

Authorities said Talieh picked up her twin son and daughter from Portola Springs Elementary school around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, which is a day she does not have custody of the kids.

Prior to picking up the children, Talieh is believed to have removed their passports from their father's home. The children have not been seen since then.

Family and friends of Talieh reported to authorities that they have had no contact with her since children were taken. They said they are concerned for the children's safety based on Talieh's deteriorating mental health and possible substance abuse, according to authorities.

Talieh is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 157 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She is an unemployed lawyer who previously worked as a child advocacy attorney in Los Angeles County.

The children are 8-year-old Pasha Dejbakhsh, who is 4 feet tall, 65 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has a scar over his right eye. Shiraz Dejbakhsh, 8, is a little girl standing 4 feet tall, 85 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The last known vehicle for Talieh is a white 2014 Ford Explorer with the license plate #7CKS328. Authorities believe they could be in the Southern California area, Houston, Texas, or even Canada.

The Irvine Police Department is working with the Orange County District Attorney's Office to obtain an arrest warrant for Talieh.

Anyone with information is asked to call the IPD hotline at (949) 724-7394.