Amber Alert Issued After Siblings Are Abducted From Their Foster Home By Masked Men

Authorities in New York have issued an Amber Alert after two young children were abducted from their foster home by masked assailants in what police have called a “planned and targeted abduction.”

Siblings Dimitri Cash Jr., 5, and Shekeria Cash, 3, were taken from a private residence in Greece, New York on Monday, the New York State Police said in a release. They were last seen with two black males, presumably their abductors, who were wearing black ski masks, flannel shirts, and Dickies work pants, the release states. Police believe that the children are in “imminent danger of serious bodily harm and/or death."

A woman called police on Monday night to report the incident, Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe said during a recent news conference. The woman, who has seven foster children, was downstairs when she heard a crash and saw the male suspects in ski masks breaking through a front window. She screamed, which prompted two of her children to come downstairs, but then the suspects used tape to tie them all together and put tape over the mother’s mouth to keep her quiet, according to police. The two men then went upstairs and abducted Dimitri and Shekeria, and later stole the homeowner’s van, using it to flee with the children, Forsythe said. Police found the van abandoned later, but it was empty.

Authorities are searching for the children with the help of numerous agencies, both local and federal. Police also said this week that they are searching for the children’s father, Dimitri Cash, in order to speak to him. Police are searching for the children’s mother as well; however, she has not been as involved in the children’s lives over the last several years as Dimitri has, police said.

“We believe based on the investigation that this was a planned and targeted abduction,” Forsythe said.

Dimitri Jr., who is approximately four feet tall and weighs 50 pounds, was last seen wearing pajamas with either dinosaurs or fire trucks on them. Shekeria is three feet tall and weighs 40 pounds, and was last seen wearing panda pajamas. Both of the siblings have brown eyes and black hair, and Shekeria’s hair was braided when she was taken.

“They were forcibly removed and we are gravely concerned for their well-being,” Forsythe said.

When asked during the press conference, police could not confirm if one of the suspects is believed to be the children’s father.

Dimitri Cash was arrested in January 2020 for allegedly removing Dimitri Jr. and Shekeria from school despite not having legal custody of the children, and then hitting the school principal with his car during his escape, WROC reports. He is facing four misdemeanor charges in relation to that arrest, according to police.

Anyone with any information on the case is encouraged to call 911 or the Greece Police Department at 585-428-6666.