Missing California toddler, father who sparked Amber Alert found dead, family says

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Relatives said a missing California toddler and his father, both subjects of a recent Amber Alert, were found dead Sunday, multiple news outlets are reporting.

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The news, reported by KGO-TV and KOVR-TV, came hours after authorities canceled the Amber Alert for John Weir, 2, and his father, Steven Weir, 32.

Here are the latest updates:

Update 2:37 a.m. EDT Sept. 24: Family members said missing toddler John Weir and his father, 32-year-old Steven Weir, were found dead Sunday near a Tuolumne County campground, KGO-TV and KOVR-TV are reporting.

Authorities were still working to positively identify the bodies and determine how the pair died, the outlets reported.Update 4:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 23: California authorities canceled the Amber Alert for a 2-year-old boy but did not explain the cancellation after two bodies were found near a remote campground.

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office did not identify the bodies or provide further details but confirmed they were linked to the Amber Alert issued over the weekend.

Update 2:55 p.m. EDT Sept. 23: Authorities with the California HIghway Patrol said an Amber Alert issued over the weekend for a 2-year-old boy had been deactivated.

Authorities did not immediately provide information on why the alert had been canceled.

Original report: Authorities are searching for a missing 2-year-old boy who may be with his "armed and dangerous" father, the California Highway Patrol and Merced County Sheriff's Office said in an Amber Alert released Saturday.

AMBER ALERT CHILD ABDUCTION MERCED COUNTY ARMED & DANGEROUSATWATER, CA On September 21, 2019 the Merced County...

Posted by Merced County Sheriff's Office on Saturday, September 21, 2019

According to KTLA, police believe Steven Weir, 32, abducted John Weir from Merced County, where they were last spotted Friday evening. The pair "could possibly be heading to the Tuolumne or Calaveras County areas," the Sheriff's Office said in a Facebook post.

Authorities described John Weir as a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy who was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt with tan shorts.

Steven Weir, who is 5-foot-10 and weighs 300 pounds, has brown hair and eyes, the Amber Alert said. He was wearing a blue T-shirt with cargo shorts and may be traveling in a red 2005 Hyundai Elantra with California tag 5SKT544, police said.

Authorities are urging anyone who sees the Weirs or their vehicle to call 911.

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