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63 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 22, 2004 Amber Alert canceled Investigators find out later that the man who took the children probably is their dad By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune GRANTS PASS — An Amber Alert issued by Josephine County authorities Tuesday night was canceled four hours later when investigators learned that a man initially suspected of kidnapping two children is probably their father. Robert King phoned police Wednesday morning from San Bernardino, Calif., to say the two girls he picked up a day earlier from a Head Start facility near Grants Pass are his daughters, Josephine County sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Selig said. San Bernardino County sheriff’s officials spoke with Josephine County authorities Wednesday after contacting King and the girls, ages 4 and 7. Police determined the children are not in a harmful situation. The girl’s mother, Jackie York of Grants Pass, initially told police that King had taken her children without permission. York said King was her boyfriend, but did not share with investigators that King fathered the children, Selig said. "It’s a big, big can of worms," Selig said. "She was so distraught by the fact that her children were taken from her — some people will say anything." Advertisement Selig said that while King and York have lived together for some time, legal custody of the children was never established. York told police she did not have copies of either girl’s birth certificate. "It’s an out-of-the-ordinary situation," Selig said. "We believe (King) is their father." A third girl, age 6, who traveled with King and the other two children from Grants Pass to Southern California on Tuesday, is King’s daughter from another relationship, Selig explained. Josephine County officials issued the Amber Alert at about 8 p.m. Tuesday, about seven hours after King left the Grants Pass area with the girls. Selig said that while some may think police overreacted, the alert was canceled after four hours because people who heard about the situation phoned police to say they believed the girls were fathered by King — information York did not offer. "If it costs us a little bit of egg on our face, we’ll have to live with that," Selig said. "Making sure the children were safe — that was our top priority." Selig said neither King nor York are expected to face charges. King told police on Wednesday he would return to Josephine County with the girls in the next two weeks. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times