California Man Arrested For Kidnapping 2-Year-Old Boy, Killing Child's Mother

KEY POINTS

The police found the woman's body during a welfare check
The 2-year-old is the biological son of the woman and the accused
An Amber Alert issued for the toddler was later deactivated

A California man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly kidnapping a 2-year-old boy and killing the child's mother.

The deputies were called to a residence in Hayes Avenue in Lakeland Village on Monday for a welfare check. Inside the house, the police found 43-year-old Natasha Barlow dead and her 2-year-old toddler missing, CW-affiliated KTLA reported.

According to the police, Natasha's boyfriend, 42-year-old Celestine Stoot Jr., fled the scene after killing the woman. The deputies suspected Stoot Jr. took the toddler, Celestine Stoot III, with him.

An Amber Alert was activated for the missing toddler Monday. Natasha’s family had also asked the public’s help earlier in finding the child.

"If you see my nephew or anything, just call the police. Just say something," Natasha’s sister, Lakeisha Barlow, told the press, KTLA reported.

Lakeisha was the one who called the police to check on Natasha when she couldn't get in touch with her.

At around 5.45 p.m. on Tuesday, Stoot Jr. and his son were found in Las Vegas, reported CBSLA. According to the police, Stoot Jr. was taken into custody without any incident and the Amber Alert was deactivated.

“The 2-year-old son of the suspect, was unharmed and law enforcement is in the process of reuniting him with his family,” said the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in a statement.

"She has four young children, from 15 to 2 years old, who need their mom and who now don't have a mom," Natasha's sister Genique Stanford said.

The authorities are yet to confirm Natasha's cause of death. However, her family said she was shot. The investigation into the case was ongoing.

The Sheriff's dept. said in a press release Stoot Jr. will be booked into the Clark County jail and later extradited to Riverside County.

In a similar incident last month, a Texas man wanted for murder and aggravated robbery kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and her 1-year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter were found safe, and the man was arrested.