Napa, Calif., police are hoping Northern Nevada residents will help them locate a 4-year-old boy allegedly abducted by his mother from Napa and last seen in Reno on Sept. 27.
"She is extremely unstable and we are concerned about this little boy," said Napa Police Department Detective Judy Bond of mother Michele Schauer.
According to Bond, on Sept. 27 about 1 a.m. the Nevada Highway Patrol located a white Toyota 4Runner stopped in the travel lane of the northbound U.S. 395 off-ramp to Parr Blvd. The vehicle contained its key, Schauer's U.S. passport and California driver's license, as well as makeup, camping gear, clothing and two opened boxes of hair dye. There didn't appear to be any mechanical problem with the vehicle.
Bond said Schauer purchased the white 4Runner from a Carson City man the previous day for $3,600 cash giving her name as Susan Henderson. Schauer normally drives a green 1999 Land Rover Discovery bearing California license 4KBL182. That vehicle is not accounted for and Schauer may still be driving it.
It's believed Schauer next hitched a ride with a passing motorist, Bond said.
Surveillance footage from a 7-Eleven nearby shows her getting out of a newer-model green Honda. She has her 4-year-old son Nicholas McDonald with her and is carrying a car seat.
Bond said Schauer was in the gas station for about 10 minutes before leaving.
Witnesses at a Bordertown RV park next saw Schauer emerge from an older model green sedan with the child and car seat. The witnesses stated she went into a nearby gas station, then caught a ride in an white, older model, truck, possibly a Ford Ranger. It's unclear if Schauer went back into California or headed south possibly through Carson City, Bond said.
The detective said Schauer's 1997 Green Land Rover with California License Plate 4KBL182 is still unaccounted for.
Four-year-old Nicholas was reported abducted from Napa on Sept. 27 when his father arrived to pick him up from day care. A joint custody agreement allows Schauer weekend visitation with her son, Bond said.
She said she was hoping to bring national attention to the situation, but because the child was allegedly abducted by his mother, people aren't as interested.
"But we are very worried about this baby. She is unstable," Bond said.
Bond said its possible Schauer dyed her and her son's hair.
"She may have died her own hair blond and her son's brown," she said.
Schauer is described as a white female, 5-feet 3-inches tall, weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and eyes.
Nicholas is 3-feet 5-inches tall, about 35 pounds with light brown hair and blue eyes.
Anyone who may have seen Schauer or know her whereabouts, especially those people who may have given her and the child a ride, are asked to call Bond or Detective Kirk Premo (707) 257-9223.
Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.
