U.S. Marshals Find Missing 13-Year-Old From Bellevue in Thousand Palms, CA

Cleveland, OH – The U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit in Cleveland, OH has been working in conjunction with the Bellevue Police Department (BPD) and the Huron County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to locate and recover Dominic Oakes (13). Oakes was reported missing to the Bellevue Police Department on April 4, 2023, after he never returned home from school. His whereabouts and safety were unknown until yesterday evening. 

The U.S. Marshals Service in Cleveland and the Bellevue Police Department were able to develop information placing Oakes in Central California with his biological mother, Tanya Garcia (41). Garcia is not Oakes legal guardian and was subsequently charged on May 16, 2023, with interference with custody by the Bellevue Police Department. 

The U.S. Marshals Service in Riverside, CA, with the help of Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and the Cathedral City Police took both Garcia and Oakes into custody yesterday evening in Thousand Palms, CA. Garcia was taken into custody on her outstanding warrant and authorities will work to return Oakes to his legal guardian in Ohio.

U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott stated, “This case highlights the reach of the U.S. Marshals Service Missing Child Unit and shows we will go anywhere to locate and recover our youth in Northern Ohio. Without great partnerships with our state and local partners this case would still be open and unresolved.”

Bellevue Police Chief Marc Linder stated, “The Bellevue Police would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, the Huron County Sheriff’s Office, the Huron County Prosecutor’s Office, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, the Cathedral City Police Department, and other agencies that assisted in this investigation.  We would also like to thank the citizens of Bellevue for being involved with giving tips and information regarding this case.”

Anyone with information concerning a wanted fugitive can contact the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1-866-4WANTED (1-866-492-6833), or you can submit a web tip. Reward money is available, and tipsters may remain anonymous.  Follow the U.S. Marshals on Twitter @USMSCleveland. 

The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force – Cleveland Division is composed of the following federal, state and local agencies:  U.S. Marshals Service, Cleveland Police Department, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, Euclid Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Independence Police Department, Parma Police Department, Aurora Police Department, Solon Police Department, Cleveland RTA Police Department, Westlake Police Department, Bedford Police Department, Middleburg Heights Police Department, Newburgh Heights Police Department and the Metrohealth Police Department.