Two young Utah boys are missing, and it’s believed that they were abducted by their father. Amid the search for the children, their mother has issued a desperate plea asking for them to be returned home.
Lizzie Tomich took to Facebook on Monday, May 25, as she begged for the safe return of her 1-year-old son Will and 10-month-old Wesley. Both of the boys were last seen on May 16.
Tomich explained that she coparents the two boys with Dane Stephen Richman, who lives in Utah. She claimed that he picked the brothers up from her home in Sheldon, Washington, as part of a routine custody exchange, but he never returned the boys to her by the end of the week.
Richman, 46, allegedly told Tomich that he took the boys camping. However, concern about his whereabouts grew when he opted to not participate in a deposition custody hearing on Friday, May 22.
A welfare check then took place at Richman’s home in Saratoga Springs and authorities issued an Amber Alert when the children were not located.
“When the police arrived, we learned that the house was vacant and there were things being moved out,” Tomich said of the welfare check. “There was no car and Dane and the boys were not home. When we learned this, we knew something was wrong.”
Tomich also shared screenshots of messages she exchanged with Richman. “Where are you? Where are the kids right now?” she asked, while Richman allegedly responded, “With me, I’m driving.” He then added in the message that they were “camping.”
After the text messages were exchanged, Tomich said she arrived at the supposed meet-up location 15 minutes earlier than they planned for the custody exchange.
“As the time approached, I began calling and texting him asking for an ETA. He did not respond. At approximately 12:01 p.m. is when I began to panic and when we called police,” she said.
Tomich’s family lawyer, Brittany Skinner, added in the clip that police conducted “further investigation” and they “learned that Dane’s quit his job.”
“He’s sold almost all of his possessions. He has left with almost everything he has, with the clear intention of not returning with these children,” Skinner said.
Tomich then became visibly emotional as she asked viewers for help. “Please, like, share, repost everything, share with your family, share with your friends, anybody you know, they could be anywhere. Please,” she said before adding that her sons have “infectious smiles,” “dimples and blue eyes.”
In light of the allegations, Richman has been charged with custodial interference, according to KTVX.
Authorities said that Richman was likely in Carlsbad, California, on May 18, though it’s possible that he has crossed into Mexico in the days since.
“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,” authorities said as they issued an Amber Alert for the boys.
The Amber Alert also stated that Richman is white, stands 6’2″, weighs 195 lbs and has brown hair and green eyes. Richman reportedly drives a black Toyota Camry with Utah license plate A561HL.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department did not respond immediately to Us Weekly’s request for comment regarding the case.
Police have asked that anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Richman or the boys contact authorities at 801-798-5600 or call 911.
