Who is Trista Fullerton? Arkansas mom arrested for kidnapping her 8 children from foster homes
SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Trista Fullerton, a 36-year-old mother from Rogers, Arkansas, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping her eight children from their foster homes.
The children were ultimately found safe in California on Saturday, October 22, after a concerned citizen reported a woman "displaying bizarre behavior" in a parking lot, leading to a police intervention.
Trista Fullerton's cross-country odyssey to evade authorities
Fullerton, who had previously lost custody of her children, embarked on a harrowing journey through multiple states, evading authorities and making her way to northern California, according to Anderson police.
The 36-year-old mother and her children reportedly traveled in a trash-filled Dodge pickup truck with an Arkansas license plate, which was discovered parked in the lot by responding officers.
Trista Fullerton's prior criminal history
Upon identifying Fullerton, law enforcement realized she had an active warrant for her arrest in the state of Arkansas. This warrant stemmed from allegations that she had abducted her eight children from their foster homes after losing custody of them.
Fullerton's criminal history includes charges related to domestic battery. The 36-year-old was subsequently booked in the Shasta County jail in connection to her arrest warrant.
Following her arrest at the scene, investigators questioned her about the whereabouts of her two other children, who were later located at a residence in the Cottonwood area with the assistance of the Shasta County Sheriff's Office.
The exact duration of time that Fullerton spent with her children following the alleged kidnappings remains unclear. The children were later reunited with the parents who had adopted them in Arkansas.
Similar abduction case of 2 young girls abduction, mother faces kidnapping charges
Recently, two girls were taken from Burger King in Georgia, but the children have now been found safe, and their mother, Kaila Spires, is facing two counts of kidnapping charges, as per MEAWW.
On Sunday, October 15, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children issued an Amber Alert for 11-year-old Kylie Horne and four-year-old Kylann Harper.
The children were last seen at around 11:50 am at the Burger King on Veterans Parkway in Columbus.
Mikaela Harrell was also named as a suspect in the abduction case, alongside Spires. On Monday, October 16, the Columbus Police Department provided an update on the case shortly after the Amber Alert was issued.
They confirmed that both Horne and Harper had been safely located in the South Georgia area at approximately 11:30 am.
Spires has "at least one previous criminal conviction, a burglary charge that included breaking and entering at a residential home."
However, the connection between Harrell and the children remains unclear, and she has not been charged in the abduction case.