MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Arrest warrants have been issued for the father of a Tennessee child who has not been seen in weeks.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Tennessee says warrants were issued for Jose Inocencio Fraire Chavez, 39, an illegal immigrant, in connection with incidents that occurred in Obion County, Tenn.
The FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and ICE are working in coordination with the Union City Police Department and the TBI to find Chavez and his child, Tah Yah Yona Chavez, who have not been seen in the area since May 2.
An Endangered Child Alert was issued for Tah Yah Yona on May 5 by the TBI.
The Union City Police Department says Chavez and his daughter are believed to have initially left Tennessee and traveled to North Carolina, where they have family. It was later determined that the two left the country and entered Mexico.
Police confirm that Chavez and the seven-year-old girl are currently still in Mexico with family.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are working to ensure that Tah Yah Yona is returned home to her family and that Chavez is taken into custody.
“At the heart of this investigation is an innocent child who deserves to be safely reunited with her family in West Tennessee,” said TBI Director David Rausch.
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The Union City Police Department says that Chavez should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. If you see him, call 911 immediately.
He is described as a 5-foot-9, 175-pound man with brown eyes and black hair. Tah Yah Yona Chavez is a seven-year-old, four-foot, 55-pound girl with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink T-shirt and blue jeans.
Chavez is charged with being an illegal immigrant in possession of a firearm, willful failure to comply with removal procedures in violation of Title 8 U.S.C., and flight to avoid prosecution.
The TBI says Chavez is wanted on state charges of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping and Custodial Interference.
They were last seen in a green 1998 Chevrolet S10 with Tennessee tags 433BPFB.
