Missing sisters found; police arrest mom, neighbor
By Jamar Younger
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona
The mother of two young sisters who had been missing for more than a week was arrested Wednesday along with her neighbor in connection with their disappearance, police said.
Miranda Sue Padilla, 35, was arrested after her daughters, Marissa Padilla, 11, and Marina Padilla, 13, were found unharmed at a south-side supermarket near South Mission Road and West Ajo Way on Wednesday afternoon, said Sgt. Fabian Pacheco, a Tucson Police Department spokesman.
Lidia Miranda, 39, Padilla's neighbor, also was taken into custody after she was accused of keeping the girls while they were reported missing, Pacheco said.
They are facing multiple felony counts of custodial interference and obstructing a criminal investigation.
Miranda's 17-year-old son was taken into custody, but not arrested. He could face charges in the future, Pacheco said.
Miranda was suspected of keeping the girls for about a week before she took them to another woman's house, he said.
Detectives had earlier searched Miranda's home after she took the girls to the other woman's house, he said.
The woman watched the girls for a couple of days before she realized they were reported missing. She took them to the supermarket and called police, he said.
The girls were last seen Dec. 1 at Pistor Middle School, 5455 S. Cardinal Ave., when school was dismissed, he said.
Padilla and the girls' father are divorced. Their father, who has custody of the girls, reported them missing.
Padilla made emotional appeals for the girls' safe return on television news programs when they were first reported missing.
Police were concerned because the girls ran away from home Nov. 27 and were found at their mother's house.
Pacheco said it had not been determined how much personnel time and money was spent by police on this case, but added that investigators worked overtime on the disappearances.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at 573-4115 or
jyounger@azstarnet.com http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/320855