On January 18, 2011, three-year-old Gabriel Leonardo Makielski-Rivera was taken from Culpeper, Virginia, by his non-custodial mother, Maria Rivera-Estevez, along with his eight-year-old sister, Isabel. Gabriel is biracial (Hispanic and White), with black hair and black eyes, about 3 feet 2 inches tall and 38 pounds at the time, with an oval-shaped birthmark on his leg. He was last seen wearing a green coat, a light white sweater, and blue jeans.

Maria fled to her native Dominican Republic without the children’s father, Robert Makielski’s, consent. A felony warrant for custody violation was issued and Robert filed under the Hague Convention in February 2011 seeking their return. The Dominican court denied the return petition and Robert has had no contact with Gabriel or Isabel since they were taken. A Culpeper court awarded Robert sole physical and legal custody in December 2012, but that ruling cannot be enforced while the children remain in the Dominican Republic. Authorities believe the children may be in Santo Domingo and possibly traveling in a red 2003 Honda CRV.

Anyone who has seen Gabriel or knows his whereabouts is asked to contact the Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office.