Maine police search for 2 children believed to be taken by mother

WATERVILLE, ME (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Police in Maine are searching for two children believed to have been taken from Waterville by their mother Friday.

The Morning Sentinel reports 34-year-old BethMarie Retamozzo may have taken her two children, 7-year-old Joslyn Retamozzo and 6-year-old Joel Retamozzo, to Florida or New York.

Officials say the mother and children were last seen in a gray Nissan Quest minivan with New York license plate ERE2647.

The children have been in the custody of their grandmother for several years. Investigators believe the children's welfare is at risk.

The newspaper reports the children's grandmother reported them missing just before 9 p.m. Thursday after they did not return from a supervised visit. Investigators say the person supervising the visit allowed Retamozzo to take the children into her minivan with the understanding that they would meet at a nearby park. She never arrived to the park and no one has seen the children since.

Police plan to charge Retamozzo with two counts of criminal restraint by a parent.

Anyone with information is asked to call Waterville police at 207-680-4700.

To see images of the children and their mother, click here.

Cox Media Group