(USNewsBreak.com) – The slogan “If you see something, say something” emerged in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. It remains a poignant reminder to people that if something seems strange, it’s better to report it than ignore it. A concerned citizen who recently called authorities in Shasta County, California, reported a woman acting strangely. Law enforcement recovered eight abducted children as a result.
According to a Facebook post, around 12:30 a.m. on October 21, the Anderson Police Department received a phone call asking for a welfare check on a woman and several children in a nearby parking lot. When they arrived on scene, they quickly found the vehicle in question, a Dodge pickup truck with Arkansas police. With a bit of investigation, police determined that the woman involved, 36-year-old Trista Fullerton, had a felony warrant for her arrest.
'Bizarre behavior' tip leads to rescue of 8 abducted children: police https://t.co/BEijih3G79
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 24, 2023
Fullerton was accused of kidnapping eight children — all hers, biologically — from foster homes in Arkansas. She had lost custodial rights to all of them.
When police caught up with her, she only had six kids with her, but she was cooperative and told authorities where they could find the other two. Authorities worked together to locate them at a Cottonwood area home. At the time, the children had protective custody warrants, as well. Fullerton was arrested on scene and booked into Shasta County Jail. Authorities extended their thanks to the citizen who called in to report the incident.
Fullerton is no stranger to the legal system. She has a history of prior arrests and convictions for domestic violence. The father of her children also had a no-contact order against the Arkansas woman. According to Fox News, court records state that she violated it. At the time of her arrest, she was on probation.
Police turned the children over to Shasta County Children and Family Services. They were all reunited with their respective foster families.
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