Authorities have successfully located two young brothers who were allegedly abducted by their father, a Utah resident, and found them safe in Mexico, approximately 800 miles away. This brings a sigh of relief to their worried family and community.
The children, 1-year-old Will Richman and his 10-month-old sibling Wesley, were discovered in San Felipe, Mexico on Tuesday. Their disappearance had sparked a desperate search when their father, Dan Stephen Richman, reportedly took them across the border after facing financial difficulties. Law enforcement officials confirmed that Richman has been apprehended and is now in custody.
Their mother, who is currently involved in a custody battle with Richman, made an emotional appeal earlier in the week, urging him to prioritize the safety of the boys. “Please, just take the boys somewhere safe,” she pleaded in a video shared on social media, highlighting her distress and urgency.
The case began to unfold after the brothers were officially reported missing on Saturday. This followed Richman’s failure to return them to their mother, as was scheduled for a custody exchange. According to a report by Fox 13, this absence initiated a series of events leading to their eventual discovery.
“Please, just take the boys somewhere safe,” she said in a video posted on social media.
The boys were reported missing on Saturday after Richman did not show up for a custody exchange to hand the kids back over to Tomich, Fox 13 reported.
He was scheduled to appear for a deposition on Friday, but Tomich said she learned just minutes before that he was not attending and had fired his lawyer.
The desperate mom’s calls and texts went unanswered and police conducted a welfare check at Richman’s Saratoga Springs home but found it completely empty.
“When we learned this, we knew something was wrong,” Tomich said.
“He has left with almost everything he has with the clear intention of not returning with these children,” she added.
Tomich revealed she was especially anxious because Richman was outdoorsy and would be comfortable living off the grid.
Richman eventually replied and said he was camping with the boys as investigators began to believe he crossed the San Diego border into Mexico after tracking his phone there.
Officials said the boys were in danger due to Richman’s erratic behavior in the previous weeks and an Amber alert was issued on Saturday.
Richman’s “financial situation was dire,” and he was “upside down” on his mortgage, forcing him to take out an additional line of credit on his home equity, according to an indictment.
The dad took out a second mortgage and gave away a motorcycle and truck to friends as collateral, KUTV reported.
Richman quit his job suddenly on May 11 and told his boss “he was unable to continue working due to the current ongoing legal battles with his ex-girlfriend over the custody of his children,” according to the indictment.
He is facing two charges of custodial interference.
