Grandmother of abducted children: 'This is an emergency for me'

Catrina Lucas, 20, took 4-month-old Antoin Marsh and 1-year-old Destiny Marsh from Tonya Hunt's home on Rougemart Drive on Saturday night. The Cumberland County Department of Social Services had placed the children with Hunt about a month ago.

"DSS contacted me and told me they were doing an investigation for neglect and substance abuse for the mother and the father," Hunt said, adding that she has provided extended care for the children in the past.

Hunt said Lucas and several other adults came to her house after she agreed to let her visit with the children, but Lucas grabbed the children and ran out of the house.

Police were able to contact Lucas on Monday morning, and she told them she and the children were in a shelter in the Bronx. Police haven't been able to confirm that information, however.

Hunt said she wants an Amber Alert issued in the case, but police have declined, saying they don't believe the children are in immediate danger.

Still, police are working hard to find the children and Lucas in New York.

"They were removed by DSS for a reason, and that's why it's imperative that we do a well-being check and get these kids reunited with the grandmother," Sgt. Shawn Strepay of the Fayetteville Police Department said.

"I don't want them to stop looking for them," Hunt said. "I don't want them to treat this as a non-emergency because this is an emergency for me. It is for me. This is No. 1 priority."

Lucas faces two counts of abduction of children.

Anyone who may have been in contact with Lucas or who knows the whereabouts of the children is asked to call Detective J. Arnold with the Fayetteville Police Department at 910-824-9539 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.