Fil-Canadian girl found after alert; Filipina mom held for custody violation

Wilma Estrada was detained for taking her daughter, 9-year-old Makayla Estrada Weber, without authorization in a custodial dispute. WESTMINSTER BC POLICE

BELLINGHAM, Washington — Police found a British Columbia girl and her non-custodial mom safe in the Assumption Catholic Church here yesterday afternoon Jan. 23, after an Amber alert was issued due to the girl’s disappearance.

The mother of 9-year-old Makayla Estrada-Weber is believed to have taken her during the custody visit, violating a court order, according to the New Westminster Police Department in B.C.

Bellingham Police said the Filipino mother was detained for custodial interference, and the girl was placed into protective custody. Their car was earlier found unoccupied in the parking lot of Bellingham hotel, according to a report in Q13 Fox.com.

Westminster police stated that 48-year-old Vancouver resident Wilma Estrada entered the United States with her daughter Makayla.

Makayla Weber suffers from “selective mutism,” an anxiety disorder where a person who is normally capable of speech can only speak with people that person trusts.

Estrada was deemed incapable of providing a safe environment for her daughter after refusing to work with British Columbia director of Child, Family and Community Services.