3 children abducted from Missouri in 2017 found in Texas, officials say

Authorities in Texas have found three missing Missouri children who vanished more than two years ago, the U.S. Marshals Service announced Saturday.

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GREAT NEWS❗️@USMarshalsHQ find 3 missing children from Missouri in Texas. 💛

The children were taken into the care of the @TexasDFPS while they wait to be reunited with their father.

https://t.co/YywV7B9cbs https://t.co/MF0f2PlAD1 pic.twitter.com/lneBvzix0o
— NCMEC (@MissingKids) October 20, 2019

According to KCTV and KSHB, investigators believe that the children's mother, 42-year-old Shawn Rodriguez, abducted Ariana, David and Daniel Olivera from Saline County, Missouri, in August 2017.

In August 2019, Saline County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Rodriguez after the kids' father received full custody of his daughter and sons, who range from 3 to 9 years old, KCTV reported. The U.S. Marshals Service, working with other law enforcement agencies, soon learned that Rodriguez and the children might be in Texas and found them in Arlington last week, the outlet reported.

Rodriguez, who was arrested Thursday, faces a charge of parental kidnapping in Missouri, authorities said. The children are temporarily in Texas state custody until they return to their father's care, KSBH reported.