Father Abducted Children, Police Say

Redondo Beach police are searching for a man who picked up his two children from his ex-wife’s house in Redondo Beach for a scheduled visitation period on Christmas and has not been heard from since.

Investigators believe Guy Francis Raffaele, 52, has abducted 6-year-old Vivian Raffaele and 8-year-old Andrew Raffaele and has them in hiding. He may be driving a red and white 1990 Ford van and has remarked that he might go to Canada or South America with the children, according to Redondo Beach Detective Paul Wrightsman. Raffaele recently sold his home and is believed to have large amounts of cash, Wrightsman said.

After a bitter divorce, Raffaele was granted limited visitation rights, but they were recently cut back by a judge when he did not meet conditions, police said. Raffaele is suspected of violating a court order, and a $50,000 felony warrant has been issued for his arrest, police said.