LOS ANGELES — It’s been nearly two weeks since 4-year-old Wyman Bryant and his 2-year-old sister Willow went missing.

The siblings were allegedly abducted by their biological parents Aug. 14 in South Los Angeles. The four haven’t been seen or heard from since and could be anywhere in the country.

Tiffany Bryant, 39, and David James, 53, are believed to be traveling with their children in a champagne-colored Buick Enclave SUV with paper plates, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Nina Glass, director of the nonprofit Search & Rescue San Antonio, Inc., said the children’s parents snatched up the kids during a Department of Children and Family Services supervised visit.

Glass said Bryant and James left with Wyman and Willow through an emergency exit and left behind their 15-month-old child. Last week, the CHP issued an Amber Alert on behalf of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

The children had been with a foster family since last year after the baby tested positive for drugs in their system at birth. The foster family has now gotten help from Glass’ nonprofit.

“They are the type of people that can live off grid, if that makes sense. They like to be out there in the middle of nowhere,” Glass said of the parents. “State parks – we always say RV parks, rest areas, you might see them at truck stops because they’re nomadic. They live out of their car. They don’t really have an address.”

Glass said this is the second time the couple has taken their children. The first incident happened last summer when their third child was born, and they were found two months later. They were apparently granted visitation rights again after that.

Glass said the best way to help is to spread the word and share the Amber Alert flyer to as many people.

“This is not the type of search where you can actually say ‘We’re going to go to this location, and we’re going to start searching,’” Glass explained. “This is more of a nationwide search where everybody needs to be on the lookout for these people.”

Authorities in Los Angeles have issued an Amber Alert following the alleged abduction of two young siblings—8-year-old Olivia Ramirez and 6-year-old Mateo Ramirez—by their biological parents. The alert was activated late Tuesday evening after law enforcement determined the children were taken under suspicious and potentially dangerous circumstances. The case has already drawn widespread attention, raising urgent questions about parental custody disputes, legal oversight, and the delicate line between familial rights and child safety.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the children were last seen around 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday near a supervised visitation center in East Hollywood. Their biological parents, Carlos Ramirez and Daniela Ortega, do not currently have legal custody of the children, whose guardianship was transferred to a foster family earlier this year due to ongoing concerns about neglect and unstable living conditions. Officials say the couple had been granted limited visitation rights under court supervision but allegedly violated those terms during a scheduled meeting.

Witnesses at the center told investigators that the visit had appeared normal until Ortega asked to take Olivia to the restroom. Moments later, Carlos Ramirez reportedly distracted staff by making a phone call outside the building. By the time supervisors realized what was happening, both children were gone, and the parents had fled the area on foot. Surveillance footage captured a glimpse of the family entering a white 2009 Toyota Camry with temporary paper license plates.

Law enforcement immediately began canvassing the surrounding neighborhoods, issuing a regional Amber Alert by 8:00 p.m. as night fell and hopes of a quick recovery dimmed. The alert included photos of both children and their parents, vehicle details, and a direct plea to the public to remain alert and report any sightings. Police believe the couple may be attempting to flee the state, and authorities have expanded their search across Southern California and neighboring border checkpoints.

The urgency of the situation is underscored by a troubling custody history. Court records obtained by local media indicate that Olivia and Mateo were removed from their parents’ care in late 2023 after multiple reports of domestic disturbances, truancy, and a lack of basic care. While no criminal charges were filed at the time, family services deemed the home environment unfit, citing emotional instability and failure to meet court-mandated treatment and housing benchmarks.

Despite the parents’ insistence that they were trying to reunite with their children through legal means, social workers expressed ongoing concern about the couple’s behavior. Just last month, a judge ruled to continue supervised visitation only, with no overnights or unsupervised contact permitted. The court emphasized that reunification efforts would depend on “clear, consistent progress”—a standard that, according to caseworkers, had not yet been met.

Now, with the children missing, those prior concerns take on a much more ominous tone. Law enforcement officials are treating the case as an abduction rather than a simple custody violation due to the deliberate and deceptive way in which the children were removed from supervision. LAPD spokesperson Lt. Monica Serrano stated during a press conference Wednesday morning, “This is a serious and unlawful act that puts the children at potential risk. These are not just custody issues—we have credible reason to believe the parents are actively evading law enforcement and that the children’s safety is in jeopardy.”

In situations like this, timing is critical. Amber Alerts are activated when certain criteria are met: the victim is under 18, law enforcement believes the child has been abducted, the child is believed to be in imminent danger, and there is enough information available to assist in locating the child and the suspect. In this case, all conditions were satisfied, prompting an immediate alert across Southern California.

The broader community has responded quickly. Flyers are circulating in neighborhoods and online, digital billboards have been updated with photos of the missing children, and local businesses have shared the alert on their social media pages. Organizations that advocate for missing and exploited children have urged the public to stay vigilant, especially in public areas such as rest stops, bus terminals, and motels.

Friends and extended family of the biological parents have issued mixed responses. Some maintain that Carlos and Daniela are loving but desperate parents who simply wanted to be reunited with their children. Others acknowledge that while their intentions may have once been sincere, the manner in which they have taken the children shows a disregard for legal processes and could endanger the very lives they claim to protect.

The foster family, who had been caring for Olivia and Mateo for the past several months, are reportedly devastated by the turn of events. In a statement shared through their attorney, they expressed deep concern: “We love these children dearly and only want them safe and happy. This action is not only against the law, but against the children’s well-being. We urge Carlos and Daniela to bring Olivia and Mateo back safely and peacefully.”

Experts in child welfare and family law note that such abductions, while relatively rare, tend to occur during periods of emotional and legal stress, particularly when parents perceive custody rulings as unfair or hopeless. But acting on such impulses can carry severe consequences. Beyond criminal charges, such actions can permanently sever parental rights and cause emotional trauma to the children involved.

As of this writing, Olivia is described as 4 feet tall with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a pink hoodie, blue jeans, and white sneakers. Mateo is 3 feet 6 inches tall, with short black hair and brown eyes, last seen in a red T-shirt and black shorts. Both children are believed to be in the company of their parents, who may be traveling in the direction of the U.S.-Mexico border or heading toward relatives in Nevada.

The LAPD is asking anyone who sees the family or has relevant information to call 911 immediately or contact their Missing Persons Unit. Authorities caution the public not to approach the couple directly but instead report their location discreetly to avoid escalating the situation.

As the search intensifies, the central hope remains simple: that Olivia and Mateo will be returned home safely and quickly. For now, the story is still unfolding, and law enforcement is working tirelessly to find the children before the trail grows cold.

In a city as large and fast-moving as Los Angeles, it can be easy for stories to fade into the background. But this case has struck a chord, reminding many that behind every headline are real children, real families, and a real urgency to protect the most vulnerable. Time is critical—and for Olivia and Mateo, every minute count