In a distressing development out of Utah, police are urgently searching for two young siblings believed to have been abducted by their father. Authorities have expressed concerns about the father’s mental state, describing him as “seriously depressed,” and fear he may have fled to Mexico with the children.
Saratoga Springs police are on the lookout for 46-year-old Dane Stephen Richman, along with his sons, 1-year-old Will Richman and 10-month-old Wesley Richman. The situation has escalated due to troubling signs that Richman might have been orchestrating the abduction for several weeks.
Reports suggest Richman was grappling with significant challenges, including recent job resignation, financial instability, and a heated custody battle with his wife. The combination of these factors has led authorities to believe the children might be in imminent danger.
In response to the grave circumstances, an Amber Alert was issued over the weekend to mobilize the public’s help in locating the two boys, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
In a related incident, the case brings to mind another recent story involving a man accused of killing his partner who was apprehended in Mexico nearly two years after fleeing with their two children.
The Utah Department of Public Safety has released details about Dane Stephen Richman’s alleged abduction of his sons, emphasizing the critical nature of the ongoing search.
“THERE IS CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE CHILDREN AS THE SUSPECT HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY DEPRESSED, SELLING POSSESSIONS, FACING FINANCIAL STRESS, AND ABANDONED HIS HOME,” the alert states.
Richman was charged Sunday with two counts of custodial interference, a third-degree felony. He picked the children up from their mother in Washington state on May 16 for his scheduled visitation time, the newspaper reported, noting that authorities initially said the abduction occurred in Saratoga Springs.
On Friday, the mother called the Saratoga Springs Police Department after Richman failed to appear at a scheduled deposition hearing.
Richman had apparently emailed his attorney that morning saying he no longer needed her services and wouldn’t be attending the scheduled hearing, according to charging documents cited by the newspaper.
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Dane Stephen Richman, 46, allegedly abducted his two sons: 1-year-old Will Richman and 10-month-old Wesley Richman. He is being sought by Utah authorities, who believe he may have traveled to Mexico, via the southern border. (Utah Department of Public Safety)
Richman’s home appeared to be vacant when police visited, authorities said.
“Given Dane’s financial situation as well as the fact that he appears to have abandoned his house to foreclosure, it seems that Dane has possibly been planning this attempt to kidnap the children several days if not multiple weeks in advance,” investigators wrote in the court documents.
On May 18, Richman’s 2025 Toyota Camry had some service done in Carlsbad, California, about 50 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, authorities said.
Images taken from surveillance cameras identified Richman in Southern California, the report states.
Richman’s 2025 Toyota Camry was in Carlsbad, Calif., May 18, which is roughly 50 miles from the southern border. (Francisco Vega/Getty Images, File)
On Sunday, a warrant was issued for Richman’s arrest.
Police said they are in the process of having the Amber Alert shared throughout Mexico.
Anyone with information on Richman’s whereabouts is urged to call the Utah County Sheriff’s Office at 801-798-5600, or dial 911.
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