Child located in Las Vegas after interstate search and AMBER Alert
A 1-year-old child reported missing from Elko County has been found in Las Vegas, the Elko County Sheriff’s Office said Friday. The discovery follows an AMBER Alert issued Aug. 26, 2026, and a multi-jurisdictional investigation that spanned California, Nevada and Nevada’s rural counties.
According to the Elko County Sheriff’s Office, investigators learned earlier this week that the child had been taken from an Elko County residence to Modesto, California, where allegations of child abuse, child neglect and domestic violence were filed with the Modesto Police Department and the California Department of Social Services.
Allegations and subjects involved
The sheriff’s office says the criminal allegations arose after reports that the child was physically assaulted in Modesto. Authorities identified the mother as Rehanna De La Rosa and her boyfriend as Donny Alichanh. Investigators allege Alichanh punched the child in the face and confined the infant in a closet for extended periods.
"Detectives attempted to contact the mother without success," the Elko County Sheriff’s Office said in its advisory.
After the allegations were reported, the Modesto Police Department’s investigation indicated the mother and Alichanh had left the Modesto residence. At that point, information developed that the mother might be traveling to a residence in Las Vegas or possibly to an unknown location in Mexico.
Missed court appearance and law enforcement response
Court records and the sheriff’s office show the mother was scheduled to appear in Elko District Court on Aug. 25, 2026, for an Ex-Parte Order seeking temporary guardianship and the return of the child to Nevada. The mother did not appear for that hearing, and deputies said she stopped communicating with family and friends who she had previously contacted.
- Date of AMBER Alert: Aug. 26, 2026
- Child's age: 1 year old
- Alleged suspects: Rehanna De La Rosa (mother); Donny Alichanh (mother's boyfriend)
- Initial reported locations: Elko County, Nev.; Modesto, Calif.; Las Vegas, Nev.
The Elko County Sheriff’s Office said detectives learned the mother had changed her phone number and made statements indicating she knew law enforcement was attempting to contact her. Those actions, deputies said, indicated an effort to avoid detection.
Coordination across agencies led to recovery
While details about exactly how and where the child was located in Las Vegas were not released, the sheriff’s office credited investigative work that included communication with agencies in California and Nevada. The AMBER Alert system is designed to rapidly notify the public and partner agencies when a child is believed to be in imminent danger; in this case, the alert coincided with an active effort to locate the child following serious abuse allegations.
Officials did not immediately disclose whether arrests have been made in connection with the alleged abuse or with the removal of the child from Elko County. The Elko County Sheriff’s Office said it will continue its investigation and coordinate with the Modesto Police Department and child welfare authorities.
| Agency | Role |
|---|---|
| Elko County Sheriff’s Office | Originating jurisdiction; investigation and court filing |
| Modesto Police Department | Filed abuse/neglect reports; initial investigation in California |
| California Dept. of Social Services | Received allegations of child abuse/neglect |
City and county child protective services typically determine the immediate welfare needs of children located in such cases. The Las Vegas location of the child places jurisdictional responsibilities with local agencies to ensure the child’s safety while formal custody and criminal investigations proceed.
Residents who observe suspicious activity or have information relevant to ongoing investigations are urged to contact local law enforcement. The Elko County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional identifying details about the child or the precise Las Vegas location where the child was found, citing the age of the victim and the sensitivity of the case.
WE NEWS will continue to monitor updates from Elko County, Modesto and Las Vegas authorities and will publish further information as it becomes available through official channels.
