Utah Mother Recounts Terror After Father Allegedly Took Toddlers to Mexico; Boys Found Safe, Father Arrested
A Utah mother has described the harrowing moments when she realized her children's father had allegedly taken them across the border into Mexico, sparking a multi-state search and an AMBER Alert.
Lizzie Tomich reported her two young sons—22-month-old Will Richman and 10-month-old Wesley Richman—missing from Saratoga Springs, Utah, on Saturday, May 23, according to the Saratoga Springs Police Department. The boys had last been seen with their father, 46-year-old Dane Stephen Richman, a week earlier in Shelton, Washington, Tomich wrote in a Facebook post.
The Utah Department of Public Safety issued an AMBER Alert over the weekend, warning that the children were in “imminent danger of serious bodily harm or death,” citing the father’s “severe depression” and recent behavior. Police noted that Richman had reportedly sold his belongings and abandoned his home before the alleged abduction.
Tomich grew alarmed when Richman failed to appear for a court-ordered deposition on Friday morning and stopped responding to her calls and texts, FOX 13 reported. She requested a welfare check, and officers found his residence empty, raising immediate red flags.
“When we learned this, we knew something was wrong,” Tomich told FOX 13.
At one point during the ordeal, Richman reportedly texted Tomich claiming he had taken the boys camping. Authorities believe he sent that message while near San Diego, after having already crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
The children were located safely on Tuesday, May 26, in the northwestern Mexican city of San Felipe, the Saratoga Springs Police Department announced in an update shared by the FBI. Richman was arrested on two counts of custodial interference and is being held pending extradition.
Since the boys’ safe return, family members have expressed overwhelming relief. “We will appreciate every day from this day forward. I have never experienced true terror to my family before this,” Jenny Hirsch Tomich, a relative, wrote on Facebook Wednesday morning. “The thought of those two little guys never being seen again was more than any of us could even process. Lizzie was so incredibly brave but losing herself more and more from the heartache she was feeling.”
The incident underscores the growing concern over parental abductions crossing international borders, where jurisdictional challenges can delay recovery. The AMBER Alert system, activated in this case, played a critical role in mobilizing law enforcement across state lines and into Mexico. Experts note that quick coordination between agencies, including the FBI, is key to retrieving children in such cases.
A motive for the alleged abduction remains unclear, and it is not known whether Richman has retained an attorney or entered a plea. The case also highlights the emotional toll on families facing custody disputes complicated by mental health issues.
Tomich and her family are now focused on reuniting with the children and beginning the healing process. “We are waiting to celebrate with the boys as soon as they get back home,” Jenny Hirsch Tomich added.