Nine-year-old Noe Aranda Jr., six-year-old Chaylee Aranda, five-year-old Freddie Noe Aranda and three-year-old Maddoxlee Noe Aranda were found Friday evening in the Houston area.
The children's uncle dropped them off at their mother's home in southeast Houston around 9pm. Their father, Noe Soto-Aranda, remains at large.
Soto-Aranda and the kids vanished Wendesday afternoon after he led authorities on a high-speed chase through three counties. He is wanted on charges of assaulting a family member, endangering a child and evading arrest.
Wednesday's chase began in southwest Houston as police tried to pull over Soto-Aranda when a 9-1-1 caller spotted him and his pregnant wife, Luz Lacayo, fighting in their car. Soto-Aranda left his wife in a parking lot, and before she could pull their children from the car, he took off. He drove along Highway 59 from southwest Houston into Fort Bend County, where he disappeared.
A Critical Reach Alert was issued for the children Thursday evening after a Hyundai Sonata was reported stolen about 2 miles from where Soto-Aranda dumped his pickup truck in Sealy after eluding pursuing officers.
This is not the first time police say Soto-Aranda has run from them and gotten away. Last May in Pearland, police say they pulled him over and when they found warrants for domestic abuse and traffic violations he took off, leading them through a cemetery before running off on foot and leaving his brother behind. Pearland police never caught him, and so far, neither has HPD.
Soto-Aranda is also wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigration violation, but agency officials both in Houston and San Antonio said it is their policy not to discuss anything regarding him until he is in custody.
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