14 DAY TRIAL // An Amber Alert has been issued in the search for two children from Tampa, Florida. The young boys, aged 2 and 4, have been taken by their father without the consent of their grandmother.
10 News describes that Joshua Hakken used force to have the children come with him, adding that the boys' mother, Sharyn is also with them. The children have been staying with the grandma who was awarded legal guardianship.
They have last been spotted leaving John's Pass in Medura beach on a sailboat. Hakken's vehicle has been recovered in John's Pass following the Wednesday incident.
Coast Guard officials are carrying on a search mission on water, and believe that the family may be somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico.
A spokesman for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office mentions that Hakken might have abandoned the boat by now.
"They could (have) easily got on the boat and then had enough time to get off the boat and get into another car," Larry McKinnon notes.
The Coast Guard is broadcasting an alert on Emergency channel 16, urging travelers who might encounter the Hakkens to check in.
"The Coast Guard is searching for a 24-foot Blue S/V Salty W/2 adults and 2 children on board that departed Madeira Beach at 10 a.m. local on 03 April; destination unknown; all vessels in the area are requested to keep a sharp lookout, do not approach the vessel, the occupants are considered armed and dangerous," authorities say.
According to USA Today, the family sailed off on a 24-foot (7.3-m) white and blue boat with the name Salty, accompanied by a paw print etched on its sides.
"I know it was 'Salty,' the boat, the sailboat he's supposedly bought, so you know every once in a while I looked out to see if I saw it or not," boater Pedro Rodriguez describes.