Two children were located safely following the issuance of an Amber Alert early Monday morning by the Tulare County Sheriff's Office. Five-year-old Gage and six-year-old Paizlee Morrelli were reported abducted from their home on South Front Street and Avenue 48 in Earlimart just after 12:30 AM.
The alert was prompted after it was determined their mother, 29-year-old Mackenzie Morrelli, had taken them. Law enforcement acted quickly, spreading the alert across multiple counties, including Tulare, Kern, Kings, and Fresno.
Reports indicated the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was actively searching for Mackenzie Morrelli, and they provided specific details to help the public identify her. She was last seen driving a dark blue Scion tC with California license plate 6SQA269. According to the CHP, she stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Within hours of the abduction, the Amber Alert was deactivated around 4:30 AM, with the CHP posting on social media, confirming the children had been located. The details surrounding their recovery, as well as their current condition, remain unclear as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the case.
Typically, Amber Alerts are issued to disseminate information rapidly when children are believed to be abduction victims, maximizing the chances for their safe return. The swift action taken by the Tulare County law enforcement may well have contributed to the safe location of Gage and Paizlee Morrelli.
The response from the community also plays a significant role during such alerts, as public vigilance and readiness to report possible sightings can lead to successful resolutions of abduction cases.
Although the incident has concluded with the safe recovery of the children, the investigation continues as the authorities seek to ascertain the motivations behind Mackenzie Morrelli's actions.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to reach out to local law enforcement.
