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DAY 5: Family taking action to find kidnapped children, reaching out to community in Mexico

Posted at 3:06 PM, May 09, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-10 20:37:41-04

Tucson Police are actively working with its federal partners and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to search in Mexico for 30-year-old Luis Ramirez and 28-year-old Andrea Ramirez.

On Friday, TPD says the couple kidnapped their biological children 5-year-old Luis Ramirez and 6-month-old Kahmila Ramirez during a supervised visit at a park with a caseworker.

During the visit, police say the couple threatened the caseworker with a taser, tied the caseworker to a tree and took off with the children. 

TPD says there is still no sign or word about the whereabouts of the children.

On Saturday, police confirm their car was found in Nogales-- just waking distance from the U.S.- Mexico border.

"You always thought but you just didn't think this was really going to happen," said Erika Ramirez, a foster parent. 

She says she knew the couple faces 20 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor-- their children not involved.

"In the beginning it was really hard like, "Ah they are going to find them right away, you know they are on the border they are going to check them,"' said David Ramirez, a foster parent.

But as the days passed, there is still no word. 

"It is the children that are out there that are being affected by this and we just want the best for them," said Erika. 

The Ramirez family says they are grateful for their family and friends' support in Tucson to get the word out. Now they are planning to reach the community in Mexico to get the children back. 

They say family and friends will be in Nogales, Mexico this weekend handing out flyers.  

A Go Fund Me account is set up to raise money for a reward and a Facebook page to post updates.