Storm Lake police say three people are in custody after a home invasion and child abduction that unfolded Sunday morning on North Seneca Street.
Officers were dispatched around 10:41 a.m. after receiving a report that several individuals had forced their way into a home in the 1400 block of North Seneca Street, assaulted a woman and forcibly removed her two children — a 4‑year‑old girl and a 3‑year‑old boy. Both children sustained minor injuries.
During the attack, the suspects allegedly stole the mother’s cell phone and threatened to kill the children if she contacted police. Investigators later determined the phone had been thrown from a vehicle, preventing her from calling for help. The mother was treated at Buena Vista Regional Medical Center and released.
According to the police department, officers used investigative technology and resources to quickly identify the suspect vehicle — a blue Nissan Altima with Nevada plates — including its make, model, license plate number and last known direction of travel. That information was immediately shared with surrounding agencies through an area‑wide BOLO, or Be On the Lookout alert, issued while Storm Lake officers worked to obtain an Amber Alert.
Before the Amber Alert could be activated, the vehicle was located and stopped in Algona by the Algona Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Storm Lake investigators traveled to Algona, interviewed the suspects and recovered property taken from the home. Officers then transported all three suspects back to Storm Lake for booking.
Police identified the suspects as:
• Carlos Daniel Garciarena, 24, of Algona — the children’s estranged father — charged with first‑degree burglary, two counts of child stealing, two counts of child endangerment causing bodily injury, assault in violation of a protection order, obstruction of emergency communication devices and impersonating a public official. Police say Garciarena was under an active no‑contact order prohibiting contact with the children’s mother.
• Mailet De La Caridad Monteagudo, 22, of Algona — charged with first‑degree burglary, two counts of child stealing and impersonating a public official.
• Sammy Tarik Shamma, 19, of Algona — charged with first‑degree burglary, two counts of child stealing and impersonating a public official.
All three are being held in the Buena Vista County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
Police Chief Chris Cole praised the rapid coordination among agencies, saying technology and information sharing helped officers locate the children safely before an Amber Alert was issued. In a press release issued by the police department yesterday (Monday), he noted that he is “extremely proud” of the Storm Lake officers and “grateful to all of the partner agencies and individuals who worked together to bring these children home safely.”
The Storm Lake Police Department was assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Algona Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DNR, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, the Buena Vista County Attorney’s Office and Buena Vista Regional Medical Center.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be considered.
