This story is out of balance: A lot of Yang, but no Yin.

The article says they have had no contact with the father for at least three years, but it seems the children went with him willingly if they were able to take their belongings. It sounds like the children had probably been meeting with the father and planned for a moment they could get away.

I am just speculating, but maybe the children were happy to go along and might not have had it so well with the mother and stepfather. While not knowing the circumstances, most who come out on the short end of the custody battle get little to no time with their children and maybe the father and the kids thought this was the best option. The good thing is it sounds like they are ok.

Child kidnapping by estranged parents happens among all ethnic groups in the U.S. I don't believe it is exclusively, or even largely, an Asian-American crime.

While not knowing the circumstances, most who come out on the short end of the custody battle get little to no time with their children and maybe the father and the kids thought this was the best option. The good thing is it sounds like they are ok.

myspellcheckerisbroken, your thought process has traveled a long way on very little factual information. All that is known is that the children are gone from the home, along with their clothes, and that the estranged father is suspected in the disappearance.

How do you come by the belief that "the father and the kids thought this was the best option"?

How is it you know that the kids are ok?

Hope the children are found in good health. The mom must be a wreck.

From this story, you can't tell anything. I love all the conclusion jumping. FYI, there have been Chinese people in America for about 170 years. So, their is a good chance that someone with the last name Yang may be more "American" than you are.

Denver Bill, LMAO!!!!

my spellcheck, I hope you are joking right? they were all under 12... so you are telling me young kids have been secretly plotting with the father? No words can describe the stupidity of that comment if you were serious.

youdon'tknow - Or perhaps the older kid(s) has been in touch with the father by phone at least? Perhaps the home life with mom and step-father isn't very good? Perhaps dad took action to get kids in a better situation? We don't have information on either parent. Not fair to judge either one yet.

Their belongings were removed? How long were they at the store, anyway!? And no one is concerned for the children, no Amber Alert issued....and the bio-dad hasn't been involved for 3 years. The police aren't concerned that 7 kids (5-12...about 1 per year) are gone? Gad, it would suck to live where they do. And yes Asia has different customs, but when they don't actually grow up there, they usually are not adherents to customs...we've pretty much bastichized their customs (yes...I did that). Creek, I look forward to seeing your posts, but this one was beneath your usual standards.

Your point?

myspellcheckerisbroken, Like you I am just speculating, but my guess is that the older children, even though it has been 3 years, still remember their father. Children are very impressionable, especially at an adolescent age, and a 10, 11, and 12 year old would have a lot of pull on their younger siblings that look up to them. If the father was able to convince the older children that it was a good idea to go with him (which probably didn't take too much to do if the kids all remember the good things about him and he made it sound like an adventure or that their mother would approve) they would easily be able to tell the younger kids that it was ok, and they'd pretty much go right along with it.

In most situations I know of where the kids live primarily with their mother, the dad feels guilty and makes it up to the kids by spoiling them when they are with him. Kids know this, so it makes it that much more likely that even after 3 years, the kids would be willing to go with him.

I'm thinking about my own niece and nephew here, and while they do have their gripes about going with their dad from time to time, they are happy to see him when he does come to get them because they know they have him wrapped around their fingers and can get away with more than they can with their mother. And if the mother had no reason to fear the father or suspect that he would take the children like this, then she would not warn them to not go with him, or think twice about them being home alone with a 12, 11 and 10 year old in charge.

There are a lot of reasons the father may not have been involved for 3 years. Some parents just decide its too much or not worth the effort. Sad, but it doesn't necessarily make them a danger or someone to fear.

Lets hope that the kids are all safe and return home soon :)

Yang is a Chinese last name as some Westerners would assume. However, the missing Yang children are not Chinese; they are Hmong. Yang is one of the most common last names for the Hmong people, who first immigrated to the United States in the late 1970's as refugees because of the Vietnam War. Last week, "who are the Hmong?" was a question on Jeopardy and Keith answered it correctly. I am a Hmong and I am also a Yang but unfortunately I don't know these kids. I feel that they are safe as long as they are with their biological father. Let's us all pray for everyone's safety.

Creek Dog Parents take their children everyday in the united states in custody disputes, you see it hit the news often White, black, hispanic or Asian it happens.

For you to even post something like this strongly suggest your either ignorant or racist or a little of both.

4,

I don't know where you get ignorant or racist out of my post.

We all have a right to our opinions and assumptions as this is what the vine is for. That said, with your post, take your pick but it's only your opinion.

Have a nice day...

Too much speculation from too little information.

Although they are "children"...there is an inherent cultural trait, taught at an early age, of obedience to elders/parents, so there should not be any real surprise here. Daddy #1 would have had more influence over the kids than #2 Daddy by virtue of his paternity and possibly age, not withstanding the possibility that the kids very likely "wanted" out.

one thing is certain, the father was there for at least 7 years, and is not stranger to these little cuties...I hope every detail is counted: food in the fridge, how many beds were there, did they report anything to the teachers, etc etc....

something tells me that a man willing to take 7 children did it out of necessity (maybe in his head, we don't know)....7 kids are a lot to handle. But I hope all is well in the end. Missing your children can have a serious impact on your mental health...mom or dad, custodial or non-custodial, court ordered or not court ordered...it hurts something awful

4lil...Creek generally takes the middle gound, as a mediator. And I question your reasoning when you capitalize White and Asian, misspell "you're" and seem unable to punctuate. You've jumped to conclusions. And Perpetuate...your comment should have been saved for Doug. Although I happen to applaud that he educated us on points. I like to learn things I didn't know. But I'm still hoping these children will be returned, soon. This is nothing more than nitpicking on people are nitpicking...no value whatsoever... so blast me.

Creek DOg,

I read your comments daily, usually they come from a completely different place then this one. Being that I am married to an Asain & been to Asia where his entire extended family still live I can tell you that abductions of children for custody for reasons rarely happen. In almost all cases one parent simply walks away and starts a new family (not to different from what also happens here in the US).

By ignorant it's simple you don't know anything about Asian "old school ways" because if you did you wouldn't lump an entire COUNTRY into your "opinion". I would be more inclined to agree with oldotto2, respecting your elders is one of the 1st things taught in that culture- you do what you are told my guess is the father came in- the children followed & we know nothing about the circumstances leading up to this.

clearly racist creekdog. reading the article I didnt even comprehend their race, yet your first thought centers upon it. maybe you are still in the closet but that's racist bro. dont worry though a lot of my best friends are the same way. im not mad its just sad. Anyway i pray for these kids. this seems like its being treated awfully lightly considering the circumstances. i would make no assumptions.

mykiddos~ I typed out of frustration when I saw his comment. I am so sorry that yet again the only way to *blast* me (your words not mine) is by commenting on my spelling & how a person punctuate's a sentence.

It is not in my personality to do that to anyone. I come from a different line of thinking, I rarely comment here. I have 4 children to raise. When I see a comment that to me is extremely offensive to one group of people I comment. I can't teach my chldren to stick up for people & not do the same.

But I get it. I read daily & on here I have never once seen anyone admit they may be wrong about something.

Can't say I blame the father at all here.

Hope the children are found in good health. The mom must be a wreck.

I agree... But why do you think the mom is upset? Just because she had kids doesnt make her a loving and caring mother.

Bogy Registrar

clearly racist creekdog. reading the article I didnt even comprehend their race, yet your first thought centers upon it. maybe you are still in the closet but that's racist bro. dont worry though a lot of my best friends are the same way. im not mad its just sad. Anyway i pray for these kids. this seems like its being treated awfully lightly considering the circumstances. i would make no assumptions.

#1.20 - Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:23 AM EST

Bogy,

Incorrect. Scroll to the very top of the story where you see their pics. Within there ID below them, you see "Race : Asian". Check it out.

This is where I got it from. I did not assume anything towards race. It's in the article. I am the farthest thing from a racist.

4,

My heritage is Italian. My father was full Italian and raised me that way regardless of what America was all about and actually, it sucked. That's what I meant by "old school". When I would say something like, pass the ketchup, my father would come out with the old, "When I was a kid, there was no ketchup etc..." I meant no disrespect towards your wife. No pun there.

There are thousands of people who read and sometimes comment here. You're going to have a lot of different opinions whether you're right, wrong or whether you like it or not.

You'll have people post things about God etc... meaning zero harm to anyone else, then you'll have another person post on how there is no imaginary God and how that person is an idiot etc...

There is no win win here on the vine. We can't make everyone happy nor can we all agree on the same thing "all" the time yet, I'll bet we can all go out and have a beer and laugh about it.

Take care...

Just because she had kids doesnt make her a loving and caring mother.

Just because her children are missing doesn't make her a deadbeat either.

Because the seven children, along with their belongings, were removed from an apartment complex in the early evening without any apparent commotion, investigators do not suspect foul play.

There was no immediate concern for the children's safety, police said.

While they have not issued an "Amber Alert," which are normally issued in suspected abductions, police are seeking the public's help.

WTF! These 7 kids were taken in the night, by God knows who at this point, and the police assume they're ok because why? They assume it's their dad who whom they've had no contact with for the past three years took them now because why? Investigators do not suspect foul play, how are 7 missing children and their belongings, without any explanation to their guardians, not foul play?

Let's, for just a moment, assume that the custodial parents weren't paying the local Hmong gang boss his dues. Or, perhaps one of those missing sex offenders from the Sandy Hurricane is putting together a new harem. The police have seriously dropped the ball, any opportunity a Amber Alert could have afforded them is no longer available.

I pray for their safe return and question the morals and racial motives of the Fresno PD, because they had the resources of the California Highway Patrol at their disposal and did not think, chose, or want to employ them.

The father has the children so what is the problem. Why where children left at home alone?

Why do the boys seem a shade darker than the girls. Is the father the same father for all the children. Something seems off here. he did take all the children, they all don't look like they came from the same person.

The boys look like young tiger woods..

Why hasn't an Amber Alert been started?

If the parents mentioned in the article have full custody of all these kids then it shouldn't matter who took them, right? Whoever took these kids did so "without" the custodial parents knowledge it seems so an Amber Alert should be started A.S.A.P. and once the kids are found then deal with the issue of who will be caring for them full time.

This story is so out of sync that its not funny. I hope the kids end up not being harmed in any way, shape, or form by any of this whole bizarre happening.

I can't believe all of the second guessing and speculation going on here...don't you people have anything better to do....

Ironic...ain't it.

Hi db, CD

I hope the kids are all okay.

Even though the father is suspected of taking them, the attitude of the police that they are probably in no danger is puzzling to me. Just a couple of days ago, a grandmother who was ASKED by the parents of a two year old and his six month old brother to pick them up at day care, did so then shot and killed both of them then herself.

And I'm with the people on here who are asking why they were left alone at night long enough for someone to come pick them up along with all their belongings. That's a lot of organization and coordination when you're talking about that many kids.

Another couple of things to consider: (1) As far as child custody is concerned, the current legal system and judges are still very biased in favor of the mother even though there has been some small movement toward recognizing fathers as appropriate care providers for their children. (2) The American Journal of Pediatrics has published data that show step-spouses to be the greatest risk to children for child abuse. (3) The article doesn't state why there hasn't been any contact with the father for three years. Maybe he was in a situation that precluded his visitation or maybe the mother made this up. We'll have to wait and see.

@Lyle Kellogg

Good point. In some (maybe most) states it is illegal to leave young children at home alone. There is a hierarchy of ages and number of hours children can be left at home alone. That the children had enough time to pack up all their things and leave undetected suggests the mother was at the store for quite some time. And given that most parents are sure to maintain cell phone contact with their children, this is suspicious.

@Creek Dog

Might not be a good idea to give out too much personal TMI to defend yourself. It usually only gives the wolves more bones to bite on.

"investigators do not suspect foul play"

Then why is this in the news? Why are we reading about this? Something is foul if the police are looking for 'possible family abduction' case. The Mother contacted the police and the biological Father has been suspected of taking the children without notice. It's fishy..

Creek Dog: "We all have a right to our opinions and assumptions as this is what the vine is for. That said, with your post, take your pick but it's only your opinion."

Your posts always read like this:

Good Morning _______,

Great point ______, yada yada...but (ANOTHER PERSON), you obviously don't know what you are talking about so you shouldn't be talking about the subject, dude. You big dummy.

Have a nice day...

How are you going to seek shelter in a glass home after chucking stones at others opinions for so long? He called you a racist; get over it. Maybe you should slow your role as you characterize others on the vine too.

@dman

I noticed that you only quoted part of the sentence I had written. I did not say "the father and the kids thought this was the best option" I said "MAYBE the father and the kids thought this was the best option."

Also, I did not say that the kids were ok. I said that it appears that they are ok, based on the information given by the police in the article and not the wild thoughts running through your head. You clearly must be an MSN journalist the way you attempt to falsely claim that I made statements, which I clearly did not make. Also, you have no more information than I do, but yet I based my opinion on the details of the article, which you did not. I also clearly stated that I was speculating, whereas you tried to pass off your opinion as fact. Maybe you are not a native english speaker and reading comprehension is too difficult for you. I don't know. That's more speculation on my part.

@youdontknowjack

My comment was not stupid. As I claimed in my statement, I was speculating based on the information given in the article and not the knee-jerk reactions from people like you and Dman. The police said they believe the children are in no danger. They had time to pack and take their belongings and all of this happened while she was at the store with the stepfather.

So, according to you, he just happened to show up at that time,convince the children to go with him, pack their belongings, and disappear before the mother got back. You are also assuming the mother's story is true, that he has not been around for three years, because she would never lie, right?

Some children do plan things like this with the non-custodial parent, especially if they are in an abusive situation, and for you to dismiss opinions of others as stupid, means you are either stupid yourself, or you are fortunate enough to never have been in an abusive situation involving children. Or are a child yourself. (most likely)

who had not been involved in the children's lives "for at least three years,"

Says who? The mother? Maybe it's true, but from what I know about custody disputes, both sides will lie like a Persian rug.

I don't believe there was no involvement for 3 years. I refuse to swallow that pill. I agree there have been too many assumptions made with too little information and I already see myself walking down that road....

"This is America. There are different ways of going about child visitation than the old school ways of Asia."

Right CD, you're not ignorant at all. I guess all other cultures don't have old school ways, only in Asia. But hey, I hope you took your own advice and neuter yourself, we really don't want you breeding. You maybe Italian, but you speak more hickness.

On the topic, there is way more to the story than this. But how the hell are you going to hide 7 kids. I'm with the cops, these kids aren't in harms way, but the legal system wont be so forgiving.

"old school ways of Asia" is now considered a racist statement? Seems like the bar for what we consider racism just got lowered.

Please see sarosh's statement below for actual racism, or at least a comment that has no value.

And give Creek Dog some benefit of the doubt. The guy is on here every day trying to stir up intelligent conversation. He's the furthest thing from a troll or an intentional race baiter.

The children are very attractive. They look like a Asian and Black mixed and their last name is Asian.

It's interesting that the last name of the mother, who is now remarried is not mentioned. So here is a theory:

Perhaps the mother is Black and remarried to a Black man. Perhaps the step father thinks it's a little too crowded with seven children, maybe the mother is even pregnant again. Could be he contacted the father of the children on the sly and helped plan the "abduction," getting the mother out of the house long enough for the father to arrive, pack up all the belongings, and get away with all the children.

Just a theory...

No Amber Alert was issued because they believe he kids are with the Dad, and if so, nothing illegal has transpired.

There is no custody agreement in place that dictates who has legal access to the children. It seems the mother has been withholding the children from the dad for past three years and he is frustrated at not being able to see them. Police think he is seeking attention to his plight.

Still, it's strange that he had all that much time to get them and their things together... seven kids... and that it all worked out so well for him.

Also, I did not say that the kids were ok. I said that it appears that they are ok

myspellcheckerisbroken, Nothing is apparent, until and unless the children are located. Until then, it is equally likely that the children have been murdered, as it is that they are safely living with their father.

Your speculation that "maybe" the children decided this was the best option is unsupportable. Children below the age of consent are not legally viewed as deciding on such matters, and children who have not seen their father in 3 years, and are then confronted by him while their mother is out of the house, would have very little opportunity to "decide" anything.

If it was the father who took the children, then, at a minimum, he has done an end-run around the family court system and whatever defacto custody arrangements were in place. If I were the legal authority involved with this case, I'd arrest him and throw his ass in jail.

MrFrost; Unless she is a sociopath I seriously doubt she is NOT upset.

Do you have children?

@ dman

Please see the update on this story for today. Not to rub it in, but it appears that my speculation yesterday was accurate and the posters who went after me were wrong. I am happy that the children are safe and with their father who loves them.

Please see the update on this story for today. Not to rub it in, but it appears that my speculation yesterday was accurate

My point is yet valid. Based upon the original story, as written, your statement that "...it sounds like they are ok.", is totally unsupportable, that it was mere speculation, stated as a probable fact.

I agree with you DfromSpencer--for the cops or the family to not have an "immediate concern for the childrens' safety" is completely inane. An Amber Alert should've been issued immediately. An abduction is an abduction. And while a 12 year old is perfectly capable of looking after siblings, four younger children left alone is not what I would consider smart, when they're left alone in the care of the oldest.

Let's all hope we don't see another article in that manner from this one.

Good title for a sitcom ala "Brady Bunch!" Hope they are safe!

Jerry...you are an ***hole. That was just sick.

Same here! Mykiddosmom, I really don't want to think about the darker events that may have happened, including the possibility that their might have been unrelated criminals at work, or that the father of the children and the children may be dead, or other unpleasant possibilities.

I appreciate having a chance to smile, which is why I appreciate Jerry and schoolyard and denver bill2 posts at the 1.1 mark.

I hope that the children are well and comfortable, and that we will have a happy end update to this news story soon. And for you, I hope your day improves.

Completely agree. It seems like the children usually act more grown up than the parents when going through this.

It is possible to divorce and get along with an ex.

of course it is but it takes 2 things...

A. REAL adults and parents who except responsibility's.....( if any are left)

B. Lawyers who wont exploit the situation to make a few bucks......( don't exist)

TJHarris...I wish someone would explain that to my ex. I have tried and tried to be amicable but I have to drag him to court every time I want an extra hour with my children.

It takes two reasonable people who don't use the kids as pawns in some spiteful, petty game.

"It is possible to divorce and get along with an ex."

I'm with Scooter, if they got along, they wouldn't be divorced.

It is possible to divorce and get along with an ex?

Until the custody laws change, NO. Until the default of automatically giving the kids to the mother for 5 days a week changes, NO. My divorce never went to trial, yet my ex-wife (a functional alcoholic) was automatically granted custody for 5 days a week! Why? Why is it that the father has to come up with 8-10 grand to pay a lawyer to go to court to challenge default custody?

The system is too bogged down to look into what's best for the children. Too many cases and not enough hours in the day or social workers to investigate. The precedent is set - default custody goes to the mother. As my lawyer told me, "there isn't a judge in this county whose going to give custody of the children to the father. Your wife essentially needs to have a recent DUI, drug possession conviction, or felony conviction for you to get your kids." He's more than willing to go to trial for $8-10 grand and give it a shot. I'm thankful he told me the truth about my odds of winning (nil).

You take a loving father's children away from him, you've changed him forever. I am so thankful to my daughter, who thumbed her nose at her mother after she split and moved back home with me. When my son is old enough to make that same decision, there's no doubt in my mind that he will.

In the meantime, my son now has 2/7ths of a father and I'm completely helpless to change that. When she remarries, some dude will be with my son 5 days a week while I'm with him for 2. That's unfathomable to me. My son lives with a woman who drinks a bottle of wine PER DAY. She's smart enough not to drive, so there's not going to be a DUI. And she doesn't abuse the kids either. I don't have a prayer in court, solely because of my gender and her clean record.

That kind of unfairness usually kills any chance of ever getting along. What would you do to a person who got between you and your children. If it wasn't your kid's other parent, you'd kill them! But since it's their mother, you have no choice but to suck it up. And it ain't easy. While I'm lost without my son, at least my daughter is helping me find my way.

I fully expect the women on this board to crucify me for my comments. Have at it. You're just anonymous internet chatter. My daughter is my vindication as she knows better than anyone how bad dad got screwed over by mom.

I am sorry your ex is a B. My ex and I do get along. We let our kids chose where to live..My son lived with his Dad and the girls with me. We have always shared all of the moments in their lives, together...all 4 of their parents. To divorce with the least amount of damage to the children, both have to be mature and you do not have that. All you can do is love your children and be there whenever they need you. So no I will not crucify you, unfortunately your situation is much more common then mine.

Thank you Ms. Harris.

LOL IIMy...used to be that we didn't have anything but newspapers and televisions, so reporters actually made time to get a fuller story. Now we have the net, and only the barest of facts are presented, as there are a thousand different stories, by the hour. Probably times that, if you consider the entire world, and not just a fraction of the U.S. I love reading posts by people who state "we don't know all of the facts yet".

I agree Mykiddosmom, too little, too soon, with too many left ill informed. I also think as you that the cops dropped the ball here making too many ill advised assumption regarding these kids well being and lives, which are potentially at stake.

Their only advantage would be in their numbers, that is if their still out and about; unfortunately, kidnappers, evil doers, don't usually parade about in public with their catch after the fact.

Because they're not white. Sad but true.

I don't care who, what or how this abduction occured. Regardless if it is suspected that the kids went willfully there should still be an "Amber Alert" issued. No one knows the true thoughts of the father who took them. If he was willing to take them without asking, he is capable of just about anything. I would not rule out any possibility of what this guy could be capable of doing.

No amber alert cause not one of them was a possible "Amber"

This has been the same complain from many case workers across the country where non-anglo kids go missing. Why? And some say there's no racism left in this country.

Oh Heather! You did NOT just say that! They're in Fresno....race is not a consideration. I'd like to say that things are different where I live, but (and this is Really going to sound crappy, but it's true)...I live in a Southern state....your statement would make sense here....but not in California. ***Ducking all of the mudballs**

Heather, Heather, Heather, you call other posters racist, then you make a stupid comment like that. You just lost all credibility.

We don't know that the father took the children. It's just speculation, and for that, I wish that there was an Amber Alert, but what would it say? Look for seven children who look alike? There's no vehicle, unless the father's is on the Alert, but what if he didn't have a car? Get the flyers out to Wal-Mart and Facebook.

Because they're not white. Sad but true.

Completely false and completely ridiculous. Show facts or point to a source to back up your allegation.

They may not have the grounds to issue an Amber Alert. Although the article indicates that the father had not been involved in their lives for the past three years, it does not inform us if there was ever a custody order in place. Many people don't realize that without a valid court order both parents have and maintain equal rights to their children. So if an order was not in place their father can rightfully just "pick them up". Hopefully he is in a healthy mental state, but again police must not have had any reason to suspect that he wasn't. When Amber Alerts get issued it is because there is a clear violation of a court order, the person taking the child has no legal rights to the child (i.e. stranger abduction) and/or their is an indicator that the person who took the child(ren) pose a danger to the child(ren).

Godno....Nononono...Amber Alert is to state that a child/children are missing. No one cares about custody or anything else...the issue is the child(ren) that have disappeared. There may be amicable divorces and child custody issues...that's not the point...when a child/children disappear...THAT is an issue. The sole point is to find the child(ren) and bring them back safely. Custody and/or Happiness issues aren't a factor...the children are.

You missed the boat on that one GlAHc, it's only assumed that the dad got them, no proof! If in doubt always use an Amber Alert! Plus, it even said in the article,

There was no immediate concern for the children's safety, police said.

While they have not issued an "Amber Alert," which are normally issued in suspected abductions, police are seeking the public's help.

We know nothing of the father, his circumstances, or state of mind when and if he abducted these children, which he did if he took them without notifying the other legal guardians. The Fresno PD dropped the ball; pray for their safe return!

With this many kids in tow it shouldn't be too hard to spot the dad with his children.I'm hoping for the best.They deserve to have both parents in their lives.Divorced people should never use their children as pawns because one day they grow up and will have no respect for either parent.I'm thankful that my parents remained civil towards each other and their new spouses.

@Mykiddosmom, Citizen Frank brings up another point as to why an Amber Alert may not have been issued. Law enforcement is required to have a certain amount of information before they can issue such an alert. They may not have had enough information to do so. That does not mean that they "dropped the ball". If police could issue an "Amber Alert" everytime a child goes missing we would see so many as to become desencitized to them. I'm sure if they had had the grounds to issue an Amber Alert they would have done so.

According to the updated article they have located all seven, safe, and happy with their father. The fact that police have left them in their father's care is further proof that police had no grounds to remove them, which probably means, as I stated before, there is no custody order in place. Unless they can prove that the father's mental state would place the children in danger there is no reason to remove them from his custody without a custody order.

Those are the school pictures that parents get with the packet if the kids go missing. Based on the gray background these are the pictures the company takes of kids that aren't purchasing a packet. So maybe the younger kids aren't in school and don't have the standard picture.

Danno - point well taken; however in their defense, it would appear that these are all grade school pictures, which were probably readily available. Therefore if the younger two are not yet in school, maybe they didn't have time to go through family photos looking for a good picture of their faces. Besides if you find the 5, you'll find the other 2.

OMG...you two are really sad...nitpicking over "school pictures". I'm going to guess you never take photos of your kiddos (if you have any). And Head...that last sentence was really nasty.

Mykiddosmom,

School photos are fast, and easy to use and are current to about a year. Furthermore, it is a requirement of Congress that children in public school need to have a photo record on file, to prove that the child exists.

Family photos? I have a ton of the first one, a lot of the twins, but there came a point where I was too busy and too broke to have my disposable cameras developed. And I can't afford a smart phone or a photo phone or any other type of camera. Furthermore, if the kids belongings were taken, and msnbc is notorious for not having all the details, what if the father took any photos that were in the house?

Again, mykiddosmom, take a break. You're very upset, and it looks from your posts that you're having a terrible morning. My best wishes for a better day.

MyKiddosmom, my name would indicate that I have children. And Elk is right, every kid gets their picture taken and it includes a code to access on line to post in these cases of missing children. I am not nitpicking, I stated a fact about the pictures being from school; explaining why they may not have pictures of the youngest online. You need to relax.

Yes, I agree, the mother is likely "out of her mind." The squalor, and likely other deficiencies were not acceptable to the father. More often than not, we need to say "f" the government and their programs.

What makes you believe he will hurt them? It seems he just wants his kids back. I say he go for it.

Link me the article that says they lived in squalor...please, link. Oh...and list what "other deficiencies" were there. You're as bad as msn at presenting facts...submit an application.

@ MrBurns, once again, It was assumed that the dad took them! Even so, no one knows the dad's circumstance or state of mind after three years of being not in his children's lives. Assumptions and speculation culminating in piss poor police work!

If they, the Fresno PD, truly wanted help from the public in finding them, as was stated in the article, an Amber Alert would have been the most effective and immediate way of accomplishing that effort; a brief MSNBC article, a day later, is lame garbage!

Monkey, I agree that there's more to this story than what they are saying here. But that's MSN for you.

As for 9 people in an apartment, I grew up with 6 brothers. Including my parents, that equalled 9 people in a 4bedroom apt. It does happen, and quite comfortably.

MonkeyMo,I'm hoping the same and that Dad took them to provide a better life for them.I know these are just pictures but they look terribly thin to me and not very happy.

Amber alert would be racist in this case jpooch. CA is awesome. Where do you live hillbilly?

edog,

I live in California, and besides our weather, it is a crap hole.

Life is sweet in Coronado.

edog,

So why would an Amber alert be racist? That's pretty idiotic if that's an actual policy. Naturally, in CA anything's possible, I guess.

Typical of you to start calling people names just because you disagree with them BTW. Also a Cali trait?

My 5 year old can pack a weekend bag in under 5 minutes. On the other hand, 7 children, they probably didn't have a lot of clothes in the first place. I grew up in a house with 10 other siblings. We had 5 outfits for school, 1 for church and 2 for after school and weekends. All of that could be packed in no time.

oklahoma,If you don't have many belongings it can be done very quickly.We were very poor for a time in my childhood(5 kids) and could move everything we owned in two hours.

Look, this is a family abduction no matter who abducted the children. If the father took them from the home without the mother being aware that he was going to do so, then he abducted them.

How is it that you read this article and then conclude that NBC "makes it sound like some creep came in and stole a bunch of children for cruel and criminal purposes?" Do you really see all that within the few words printed in the article or is it just the word; "abduction" that you don't like?

Custody battles, regardless of who has custody, legal or not... and we can't tell from this article if there is legal custody or not... never end well even when children are not physically harmed. I hope these kids are found safe and end up living in a safe environment.

Loven, I was babysitting when I was 11 or 12. Why shouldn't the older child or children be responsible for the younger ones for a few hours?

Situations like this happen occasionally. You can never be prepared for EVERY situation. Some things are completely unexpected.

I was going to say, here in Minnesota you can babysit for up to 12 hours at the age of 11. Babysitting courses here start at the age of 11. If you have a mature child, who has been through some training or at least you ran through the do's and don'ts, plus have some emergency plans in place, it works out just fine. At first I was shocked at the number of kids left in the 12 and 11 year olds care (if California is anything like MN in rules, they would be the sitters.), but then I remembered the Catholic lady that I babysat for when I was 12 and she had over 10 kids. Once she had her 11th I told her I would need someone else to come help. But it's not impossible to care for that many, especially if you are used to taking a leadership role.

Janine

SDMN

So why did they go missing while in the care of an 11/12 year old? Yes mature and responsible and all those emergency plans just walked out the door....

I was ten and babysitting on my own. So it isn't odd to me at least to see a 12 year old babysitting his siblings.

@Green machine the children went with this person without a fight so more than likely they KNEW the person. Since the police believe it's the father the child most likely didn't see the harm, or his father convinced him it was fine.

Green, the problem is we don't know WHY or HOW they disappeared at this point.

A few months ago 20children were murdered while under the care of ADULTS.

Things happen. As I said, you can't be prepared for EVERYTHING, no matter how much you think you are.

LeanneJ,Maybe their living conditions were not so good so they gladly left.Children are not always placed with the better parent.The courts in California have placed kids with the parent who was the most unstable only to have those children murdered.They just had a case like that in Fresno,Ca.,one of the worst child protective agency's.Sacramento and L.A.'s child protective services have seen many lawsuits due to placing kids with the worst of the two parents.

Huh? and you have a PhD.............You are thinking way to deep in some 3rd dimension there buddy.

Yang....not gang.......get it?