California mother reunited with son abducted in 1995
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California mother was reunited Thursday with her abducted son, laying eyes on him and wrapping her arms around him for the first time in 21 years.
Maria Mancia had been left with just a single photo of her son since his father took him in 1995.
Steve Hernandez, 22, was found living in Puebla, Mexico, and on Thursday morning was brought to the U.S. to meet his mother for an emotional reunion.
The San Bernardino County District Attorney's Child Abduction Unit had been looking for Hernandez through the years, searching for him in several states.
The parents were having relationship struggles.
Once the DNA sample was obtained in February, Cragg asked the Department of Justice if they could hurry on the test, knowing it could take several months.
Because Steve Hernandez is a U.S. citizen, there were no immigration troubles returning him to the U.S., Cragg said.
Authorities in both countries were hugely helpful in making it happen.