MEDINA COUNTY, Texas – Update (8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 27): The Medina County Sheriff’s Office said around 10:30 p.m. Sunday they found Jonathan Wright and his three children during a search. They were located in a field that units were searching in the Rio Medina area off CR 366, the sheriff’s office said. Wright and his children are all in the Sheriff’s Office custody, with everyone appearing to be in good health.
Authorities say Wright will be extradited to North Carolina on crimes against minors charges.
The children were given clothes, food, and a warm bed to sleep in, deputies said. The Medina County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies worked together to celebrate Christmas with the children on Dec. 26.
Deputies say they are working to reunite the children with their mother as soon as possible.
The Amber Alert has since been discontinued.
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Update (7 a.m., Friday, Dec. 24): Authorities in Medina County are still searching for three children who disappeared along with their father earlier this week.
Lucas, 9, Ariana, 8, and Jonathan, 11, were last seen at 3:45 p.m. Monday at Country Road 366 and FM Road 2676 in Hondo, according to an AMBER Alert issued on Tuesday. DPS on Thursday evening said the alert is still active.
Authorities are also searching for the children’s father, Jonathan, 40, who is wanted on several out-of-state warrants for crimes against minors, according to the MCSO.
Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Medina County Dispatch Office at 830-741-6153.
The U.S. Marshal’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward leading to the whereabouts and safe return of the children.
Original (2:59 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 21): The Medina County Sheriff’s Office needs the public’s help locating a wanted man and his three children.
Deputies say Jonathan Wright is wanted on several out-of-state warrants and is believed to be traveling on foot with his three children in the Rio Medina or Castroville area.
Sheriff Randy Brown said Wright was traveling with his wife and five children when their car became disabled. That’s when the family took off on foot and decided to live off the land.
Wright’s wife and his two older children were seen walking to a store in Rio Medina, Brown said. That’s when a deputy stopped them and found out the family was on the run.
The wife then told police Wright has multiple warrants out of Mooresville, North Carolina for sex crimes against minors.
Brown said Wright’s children are not associated with those warrants.
An Amber Alert was issued Tuesday night for Wright’s three younger children, Jonathan Wright, 11; Lucas Wright, 9; and Ariana Wright, 8. The four of them were last seen Monday with their dad near Settlers Pass, a neighborhood in Rio Medina outside of Castroville, deputies said.
Authorities said the children are believed to be with Wright and were without shelter Monday night. They have no money, food, or cellphones, Brown said.
Brown says it’s now time for the rest of the family to get to safety.
“My understanding his kids think their dad hung the moon, well he needs to step up and let them be in a safe place while he goes and fights his own battle,” Sheriff Brown said.
They have been known to camp out in the woods, and authorities say they searched an area of land on FM 2676 between CR 366 & 271.
The search was put on hold Tuesday night but Brown says they’ll be back out in the area in the morning.
Deputies say if you see Wright, you should not approach him. Authorities ask that you call 911 if you see him or his children. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the Medina County Dispatch Office at 830-741-6153.
The U.S. Marshall’s Office is offering a $5,000 reward leading to the whereabouts and safe return of the children.
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