Napa, CA — Authorities in Napa are investigating the disappearance of 1-year-old Saul Martinez Rafael, who was reportedly taken by his mother during an unsupervised visit arranged by Child Welfare Services (CWS) on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Napa Police, the toddler was dropped off by CWS workers at the residence of his mother, Antonia Rafael-Valasquez, for a scheduled visit. However, three hours later, when CWS workers returned to check on the child, they discovered both Saul and his mother were gone. A subsequent search of the residence revealed that Rafael-Valasquez’s closet had been cleared out, adding to the suspicion that the mother may have taken the child without permission.
Napa police have entered both the mother and child into the National Missing Persons Database. While they are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the disappearance, authorities have not yet found evidence of foul play. “We are looking at all possibilities, including whether this could be a case of parental abduction,” a police spokesperson stated.
Saul Martinez Rafael has been in CWS custody since the summer of 2024. While police have not provided specific details on the circumstances that led to the child’s placement, the situation remains under investigation. The public is urged to contact authorities if they have any information regarding the whereabouts of the mother and child.
As of now, the case continues to develop, and police are working to locate the missing toddler and his mother as quickly as possible.