UMVA has learned that a desperate father, potentially facing financial ruin and a contentious custody battle, may have taken his young sons on a dangerous journey that could lead them to Mexico.
Dane Stephen Richman, 46, vanished with his 1-year-old son Will and 10-month-old Wesley after quitting his job and skipping a custody hearing, authorities said. Investigators believe he planned the abduction for weeks, fueled by mounting debts and the threat of losing his home to foreclosure.
Richman’s ex-wife alerted Saratoga Springs police when he failed to appear at a deposition, revealing he had emailed his attorney hours earlier to withdraw representation. His vacant home and abandoned car—a 2025 Toyota Camry serviced near the U.S.-Mexico border—suggest a calculated escape, officials said.
An Amber Alert was issued after authorities confirmed the boys were in “imminent danger.” Surveillance footage placed Richman in Southern California, just 50 miles from the border, where he may have crossed into Mexico. Police are urging the public to report any sightings as they coordinate with Mexican authorities.
