Amber Alert: Missing van found, but no sign of father, 2-year-old son

The Nissan minivan believed to have been stolen by a man suspected of kidnapping his 2-year-old son in Boyle Heights on Friday, setting off an Amber Alert, has been found empty in East L.A.

Authorities told KTLA that 27-year-old Abraham Vargas whisked away the boy, Edwin Vargas, in an orange Nissan Quest that was briefly left unattended as his mother went to retrieve another child.

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FOR THE RECORD

Officials initially stated Vargas was 26 years old, but now say he is 27. A previous version of this post gave the incorrect age.

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Police were contacted around 6:30 a.m. by the boy’s mother, who said Vargas, her ex-boyfriend, had taken the van and the child from the 1000 block of South Lorena Street in Boyle Heights.

About five hours later, police found the van parked on a street in Los Angeles with no sign of Vargas or his son.

Vargas was under a court-issued restraining order barring him from contact with the mother, Los Angeles police Officer Norma Eisenman said.

Authorities believe Vargas may be heading to Mexico.

“He had made previous statements to other folks that if he had the opportunity he would take his child and flee toward Mexico,” LAPD Captain Gerardo Lopez told KTLA.

Vargas was described as 5 foot 5 inches tall and 180 pounds.

Authorities said the boy was wearing a red sweat shirt and blue sweat pants.