Mom arrested; baby missing
San Antonio police have found and arrested a mother who had been reported missing with her 18-monthold child since January.
Authorities charged 20-year-old D’lanny Reaneille Chairez early Tuesday with abandoning or endangering a child. Police said they have not found her son, James Avi Chairez, but believe he may be in the San Antonio area.
Chairez and her child had been missing since Jan. 4, when they were seen on security footage at a Walgreens in the 7100 block of Marbach Road.
According to an arrest affidavit, Chairez refused to answer police questions about the child’s whereabouts but instead discussed wanting to give him up for adoption because she was not ready to be a mother. She also told police she was dealing with mental health issues and wanted the child “to be in a better place.”
In the affidavit, police describe Chairez as providing inconsistent statements. She also said she gave the child away to multiple people.
Police said they found a crib sheet with blood on it along with the child’s car seat, stroller, diapers and toys during a search of the woman’s residence.
Family members said they haven’t seen the child since Thanksgiving, but he was seen on security camera footage with Chairez at the Walgreens on Jan. 4. Security cameras caught the mother alone twice in February, once on Feb. 21 at another Walgreens and a second time at a VIA bus station near U.S. 90 and Southwest Military Drive.
On Saturday, more than 60 San Antonio Police Academy cadets and police officers, aided by helicopters and four K-9 teams, scoured the 500-acre Pearsall Park for signs of the two.
Police did not say how they found Chairez but said the investigation is active.
Chairez’s bail was set at $250,000.
Anyone with information should call the police department’s Missing Person’s Unit at 210-207-7660.