Amber Alert Issued: Search Intensifies for Missing 6-Year-Old Taken in Dallas, Authorities Seek Tips

Texas authorities have activated an AMBER Alert for 4-year-old Leah Calderon, who police say was abducted from her North Side San Antonio neighborhood before dawn on Wednesday, September 17. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Leah was last seen around 5 a.m. in the 11300 block of Roszell Drive. Investigators believe she is with 31-year-old suspect Javier Medina, who may be driving a white 2014 Ford Escape with Texas plates RFP-3921. Medina is described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Leah has brown eyes, black hair styled in a shoulder-length bob, and was wearing pink unicorn pajamas when she disappeared. Detectives say Medina is a non-custodial family acquaintance and could be heading toward the Houston or Laredo areas. A regional broadcast has been issued across interstate electronic road signs, wireless emergency alerts, and highway patrol radio to enlist public help. Anyone who spots the vehicle, the suspect, or the child is urged to call the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-7660 or dial 911 immediately. Authorities warn citizens not to approach Medina, who may be armed. Leah’s family told reporters she had been asleep in her room when relatives heard a door close and realized she was gone. Surveillance video from a nearby home captured a man matching Medina’s description carrying the child to the SUV. The AMBER Alert system—named for 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, whose 1996 abduction in Arlington, Texas, led to the nationwide program—has recovered more than 1,200 children to date. Law-enforcement experts stress that the first three hours after a suspected abduction are critical; public attention vastly improves recovery odds. Tips for protecting children • Keep updated photos and fingerprints on file. • Teach kids a family “safe word” for unexpected pickups. • Encourage children to scream, run, and call 911 if someone tries to force them into a vehicle. This story will be updated as new information is released.