Two Year Old Madeline Layla Samaan-FayTaken by Father is in Danger / Toddler and Father Found Dead in SUV /Murder-Suicide, Both Died From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from the Car's Exhaust Pipe/Toddler Was Shot Twice

SACRAMENTO -- A statewide Amber Alert has been issued for a 2-year-old girl federal officials believe may be in danger.

Madeline Layla Samaan-Fay was taken by her father in Sacramento on Sunday, according to a press release from the FBI on Friday.

Mourad "Moni" Samaan has partial custody of his daughter, Madeline, but failed to return her to her mother's home over the weekend, according to FBI agent John Cauthen.

Authorities have not been able to locate Madeline or her father.

Investigators say that all electronic communications and money transactions on Samaan's accounts stopped on Sunday.

His family says he is an emotional roller coaster, and that there were custody issues over Madeline.

The girl's mother recently filed court papers seeking full custody.

Samaan drives a green Toyota 4Runner, with California plates, #3XRM111.

He is a US citizen who was born in Egypt, standing about five-foot-six, with black hair and brown eyes.

He also speaks Spanish very well.

In the Amber Alert issued Friday afternoon, officials say Samaan could be anywhere in the state of California.
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If you see the car, or Samaan, call the FBI at 916-481-9110.

Oh, I so hope that he is caught before he gets out of the country...Getting a child back from the Middle East is almost impossible. And being able to speak Spanish well
could mean an exit through Mexico...I hope not!

I would hope the FBI is involved and is investigating the Sacramento airport and virtually, ALL airports in California, for his name.

Raine, you are fast on the draw. I was just getting ready to post their pic and you beat me to it. Thanks for being so tenacious!!

Girl abducted by father in Sacramento, may be headed to Bay Area
By: Bay City News | 08/12/11 2:23 PM
Mourad “Moni” Samaan
Mourad “Moni” Samaan (Courtesy photo/Bay City News)
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A father abducted his child in Sacramento on Sunday and may be headed toward the Bay Area, the FBI said today.

Mourad “Moni” Samaan, 49, took his 2-year-old daughter Madeline Samaan-Fey on Sunday and FBI investigators believe her life might be in jeopardy.

The circumstances of the abduction are particularly concerning, according to FBI officials.

Madeline is 2-foot-8 with brown hair and brown eyes.

Samaan is a U.S. citizen born in Egypt who is 5 feet 6 inches tall with black hair and brown eyes and is believed to be an accomplished Spanish speaker. He is known to drive a green Toyota 4Runner with California license plate No. 3XRM111.

The FBI encourages anyone with information related to this case to call (916) 481-9110.

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He looks so different in the above pics. I wonder if he is bearded or shaved.

FBI fears for the safety of girl, taken by her dad in Sacramento
By Jessica A. York / Times-Herald
Posted: 08/13/2011 01:00:41 AM PDT

The FBI believes the life of a 2-year-old Sacramento girl reportedly abducted Saturday may be endangered.

Police are searching for Mourad "Moni" Samaan, 49, in connection with the suspected abduction of his daughter, Madeline Samaan-Fay.

Special Agent John Cauthen said Friday the suspect may be headed for the Bay Area, driving a dark green Toyota 4Runner with California license plate 3XRM111.

An Amber Alert for the missing girl was issued Friday afternoon.

Mourad Samaan is described as a 5-foot-6-inch man, about 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The FBI believes he is an accomplished Spanish speaker, and is a U.S. citizen born in Egypt.

The abducted girl is described as about 28 pounds and 2 feet, 8 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.

The FBI did not elaborate on worry for the child's safety, saying only that the "circumstances of the abduction are particularly concerning."

The concerns arose as part of a cumulative investigation, rather than one specific incident, Cauthen said.

The FBI is asking anyone with information about the case to call (916) 481-9110.

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Wrapitup wrote:FBI fears for the safety of girl, taken by her dad in Sacramento
By Jessica A. York / Times-Herald
Posted: 08/13/2011 01:00:41 AM PDT

The FBI believes the life of a 2-year-old Sacramento girl reportedly abducted Saturday may be endangered.

Police are searching for Mourad "Moni" Samaan, 49, in connection with the suspected abduction of his daughter, Madeline Samaan-Fay.

Special Agent John Cauthen said Friday the suspect may be headed for the Bay Area, driving a dark green Toyota 4Runner with California license plate 3XRM111.

An Amber Alert for the missing girl was issued Friday afternoon. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

This sounds so frightening for this child and the fact that the FBI won't elaborate on the circumstances of the abduction nor why they believe the girl's life may be in danger makes me think that this is so much more serious than any of us know!

WHY was an amber alert not issued for SIX days???

Great question. There is something very strange going on here. I bet this w/be transferred to "Missing" very soon!

Man, young girl found dead in SUV targeted in Amber Alert

An adult male and female child were found dead Saturday in the SUV targeted in a statewide Amber Alert following a father's abduction of his Sacramento toddler, the FBI said.
The green Toyota 4Runner of Mourad "Moni" Samaan, 49, and his 2-year-old daughter Madeline Samaan-Fay was found Saturday at about 8 p.m. on a road near the town of Sommerset, about 50 miles east of the capital. The FBI canceled the Amber Alert, but stopped short of confirming the two people dead inside the SUV were the father and daughter.
The cause and time of death are unknown, the FBI said, and federal and El Dorado Sheriff's Office investigators were processing the scene into the night.
The FBI issued an Amber Alert on Friday after Samaan abducted his daughter on Aug. 7 and was reportedly headed to the Bay Area. The Egyptian-born U.S. citizen took his daughter after losing joint custody of the toddler, the FBI said.
The girl was last seen Aug. 7 with her father in a Sacramento grocery store. The FBI released photographs of the father and daughter, including a photo showing them in the grocery store.
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FBI: Missing Calif. toddler, father found dead
Associated Press, 08.14.11, 02:42 AM EDT

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The bodies of a missing 2-year-old Sacramento girl and her father were discovered Saturday night in the man's vehicle, nearly a week after she was taken by the man during a child custody dispute, authorities said.

Madeline Samaan-Fay and Mourad "Moni" Samaan, 49, were found dead in his green Toyota ( TM - news - people ) 4Runner in a rural area near Placerville, about 45 miles northeast of the capital, according to FBI Special Agent John Cauthen.

The cause and time of the deaths was not immediately known, Cauthen said.

FBI agents and investigators from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department were on the scene late Saturday. The investigation was expected to last throughout the weekend, Cauthen said.

Madeline was taken by her father last Sunday after her mother was granted custody of the toddler. The FBI issued an AMBER alert Friday.

The father and daughter were last seen in a Sacramento Raley's grocery store Sunday. Since then, Samaan had cut off all communication with friends and family members, Cauthen said.

Samaan was served the day before with a notice that the girl's mother was awarded full custody of their daughter, ending what had been a joint custody arrangement, Cauthen said.

He then failed to return the child to her mother as expected.

Samaan had not been charged with a crime.

The mother didn't report the girl missing until Tuesday.

The FBI had asked the public for its help in spotting the pair or Samaan's vehicle. The FBI also released photographs of the pair, including a photo showing them in the grocery store Sunday.

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This makes me so sad!! She was absolutely precious! Why would he take her life? WHY?? Did he feel if he lost custody that both of them should die? This is just Crazy! And, why did the mom wait to call police? HOW did they die?

Report: Missing girl, father died of car exhaust

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The grandfather of a 2-year-old California girl found dead with her father inside an SUV says the two died of carbon monoxide poisoning from the car's exhaust pipe.

Makram Samaan told The Sacramento Bee ( [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] on Monday that his son, Mourad "Moni" Samaan, killed himself and Layla Samaan-Fay after a bitter custody battle that began before the child was born.

Their bodies were found inside the 49-year-old father's Toyota 4Runner in rural El Dorado County on Saturday.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's office has not confirmed the causes of death and did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

The father and daughter went missing a day after he learned his wife had been awarded full custody of their child. Their bodies were discovered nearly a week later.

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Autopsy: Toddler taken by father was shot twice

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Preliminary autopsy results on a Sacramento man and his 2-year-old daughter who were found dead after he disappeared with her show that both suffered gunshot wounds.

The El Dorado Sheriff's Office says Mourad "Moni" Samaan died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
But it hasn't yet determined a cause of death for Madeline Samaan-Fey. Lt. Brian Golmitz says she suffered two gunshot wounds but also may have had carbon monoxide poisoning.

The FBI issued an Amber Alert last Friday after Samaan allegedly abducted the child, who had been the subject of a bitter court custody battle. Authorities say Samaan fled upon learning that the girl's mother had been awarded full custody.

After an extensive search, their bodies were found inside Samaan's SUV on family property in the wooded Grizzly Flat area.
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