Dad with violent criminal record abducts daughter, grandkids (San Antonio, Texas)

Dad ALPHONSE HARRIS, who has a violent criminal record and a history of mental illness, abducted his 13-year-old daughter and three of his grandchildren just after his ex-wife died (he even stole the ex-wife's car). When an aunt received a fearful text message from 13-year-old saying they were being held against their will, the child was apparently threatened by the father and all messages suddenly stopped.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/53510752.html

Web Posted: 08/18/2009 12:00 CDT
Search on for man who took child, grandchildren
By Robert M Crowe - SAEN

The search for four San Antonio-area children abducted by a 53-year-old man with a violent criminal record and history of mental illness continued Monday.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert Sunday for 13-year-old Briana Harris, and her cousins, Dantae Lamar Harris, 5, Kenneth Dominic Harris, 6, and Nichelle Denise Harris, 9.
Sheriff's deputies said Alphonse Harris abducted the children — Briana is his daughter and the others are his grandchildren — and drove them out of state in a car belonging to his ex-wife, who died Sunday.

Bexar County sheriff's deputies believe that the suspect was headed to Pontiac, Mich., where he lives. He came to San Antonio at the beginning of August, after his ex-wife became seriously ill, authorities said. She became unconscious around Aug. 11 after suffering a heart attack or stroke, said Deputy Ino Badillo, a Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman.

She remained on life support at a local hospital until Sunday. Shortly after her death, Alphonse Harris packed the children in a car belonging to the deceased guardian and drove north. While the group was near Killeen, the oldest child sent text messages to an aunt that relayed her fears about being held against her will. The messages stopped after her father learned she was texting, according to Badillo.

“The suspect threatened to injure her if she contacted anybody else,” the sheriff's spokesman said.

Relatives said the children already had endured multiple hardships before the death of their guardian, Alphonse Harris' ex-wife, who divorced the suspect 13 years ago.

Three of the children were placed in temporary custody of their grandmother after Child Protective Services terminated parental rights to their 27-year-old biological mother, LaKiesha Harris.

Authorities and LaKiesha Harris said the suspect has a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia. Records show he has spent time in jail for assault bodily injury, violating a protective order, theft, criminal trespass and making terroristic threats.

“He's a very dangerous man,” she said Monday. “I just want him to return the children safely.”
Alphonse Harris is believed to be driving a tan 1999 Dodge Caravan with a Texas license plate No. 52PGX5.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office 24-hour line at (210) 335-4630 or (210) 336-4603.