CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — U.S. Marshals are asking for help to find a Corpus Christi mother accused of not returning her child to his father in accordance with a judge's custody order.
Authorities are searching for "critically missing" child, 8-year-old Edwin Buskirk II. He is a special-needs child who has been diagnosed with level 3 of nonverbal autism, authorities said, and he needs special medication daily.
A $10,000 reward is being offered in connection with the case.
A Nueces County judge awarded custody of Edwin to his biological father on Dec. 15. Rebecca Buskirk, also known as Rebecca Raj, was supposed to return Edwin to his father the next day and never showed, the statement said.
Corpus Christi police were able to secure an arrest warrant for Rebecca Buskirk on Dec. 29 for interfering with child custody. That's when CCPD asked the U.S. Marshals to help find little Edwin.
Lieutenant Michael Pena with CCPD, says the reason why there was a delay in this information being made public was because this was not a 'stranger danger type issue'. "If it was a stranger danger type issue, that information would have gone out immediately," Pena said. "And we'd hope that the mother would, you know, relinquish the child back to the father. But that hasn't happened yet. So that's the reason why we're putting that information out to get some more additional help from the community."
Authorities originally believed the two were in a dark color Chevy Silverado truck, but authorities said Thursday that truck was found at 96 county road 2250 in Taft, after she sold it to "a scrapper," officials with the U.S. Marshals Office told 3NEWS.
U.S. Marshals think Rebecca Buskirk may be getting help from family members or support groups, the statement said.
"Recovering critically missing children is one of U.S. Marshals core mission," the statement said. "We are seeking the assistance of the community to help us recover little Edwin."
For confidential information, please contact US Marshals at 361-267-6500 or call 911.
You can also call Corpus Christi Crime Stoppers at (361) 886-2776 or report a tip on their website at www.888tips.com.