Missing Merced woman, child sought by police. Family says whereabouts are unknown

Merced Police Department is asking for the public’s help to find a missing woman and her son.

Francisca Vasquez-Hernandez left home last Friday, Oct. 15, with her son, 2-year-old Erick Alvarado, according to the department’s Facebook page.

She was reported missing by relatives on Oct. 18. Vasquez-Hernandez does not have a car, and police said it’s unclear if she was picked up in a car or left on foot.

Detective Patrick Radke didn’t have any information to suggest that she or Alvarado were kidnapped. “We have nothing at this point that would point to anything like that,” Radke said.

Vasquez-Hernandez’s relatives could not give Merced police officers an address for the missing woman or her son, but said she lived in the same household as several members of her family.

She is believed to still be in the Merced area, and frequently spends time in downtown or central region of the city.

Police also said Vasquez-Hernandez’s family tried calling her on her phone multiple times, but the phone is off and as of Friday, did not return any of their calls.

If any member of the public knows where Vasquez-Hernandez and her son went, they are urged to call Det. Radke at 209-388-7725 or 209-769-8779.

This story was originally published October 22, 2021 at 5:23 PM.