Authorities are searching for a Hialeah family of five who disappeared after the Department of Children and Families was granted custody of three children.
Hialeah Police say it's believed parents Lester Pereira Sr. and Rosa Martinez Diaz fled with the children - 13-year-old Lester, 11-year-old Roselyn and 3-year-old Briana - and are hiding to avoid being separated. Officials say they fear the children may be in danger.
DCF was granted custody of the children on January 27 but when workers went to their last known address at 2225 W. 60th Street, the entire family was gone. Officials with DCF then filed a missing persons report with Hialeah Police.
Officials didn't say why DCF was granted custody of the children. According to a police report, the three children had not gone to school for two days and the mother hadn't made contact with DCF, as she was ordered to do on a daily basis. The family also didn't show up for a court appearance, the report said.
"Based on the history with this family, we are very concerned about the well-being of these children and appreciate everyone’s assistance in locating this family so that the children can be safely recovered," DCF said in a statement. "The department is working closely with the Hialeah Police Department to locate these children and the court has issued a pick up order for the three children per the department’s request."
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Hialeah Police at 305-687-2525.
