Detectives are searching for a Modesto mother of two who was kidnapped at gunpoint by her estranged husband on Sunday evening, April 11. The suspect, Javier Chavez (41, Modesto), is believed to have fled to Mexico.

Detectives have been following up on leads and trying to locate the missing woman, Susana Torres (32, Modesto) since her family reported her missing. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Chavez had abducted Torres and the two children at gunpoint outside of a market in the 600 block of Butte Avenue in Modesto at around 5:30 p.m. Sunday.

Chavez dropped off both children, ages 8 and 2, at his parent’s house around 10 p.m. Sunday. Chavez is the father of the 2-year-old-child. When Chavez did not return to pick up the children the following day, his parents took the 8-year-old to Torres’ parents’ house, and that is when it was discovered that Torres was missing.

Once authorities learned that Torres and the children had been abducted at gunpoint by Chavez, they began searching for both. Detectives believe that Chavez fled to Mexico and had crossed the border by the time they learned of the kidnapping.

“We have been trying to trace back from the point of the kidnapping to when Chavez crossed the border to Mexico,” said Detective Darwin Summerton. “We have followed up on several leads but still have not been able to locate Torres.”

At the time of the kidnapping, Torres had a restraining order against Chavez, and he was wanted by Modesto Police Department for charges of rape. An arrest warrant has been issued for Chavez for kidnapping. Detectives ask that anyone who may have information about this case or the whereabouts of Chavez or Torres please call Detective Summerton at 209-525-7032 or Detective Esquivez (Spanish) at 209-652-1792.

If you have any information, you can leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Tipsters can also submit tips at www.stancrimetips.org or use the mobile app “P3,” and you may be eligible for a cash reward.