Joint News Release from the Sauk Prairie Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice:

Sauk Prairie Police Looking for Missing Three-Year-Old Boy; Investigators Believe He May Be in Texas

MADISON — The Sauk Prairie Police Department and the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) are asking for the public’s help in the search for Leonelly “Leo” Gabriel Barron.  A photo of the three-year-old is available here.  Leonelly is described as being approximately two feet, seven inches tall and weighing approximately 35 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Leonelly reportedly wears his hair in a “frohawk” style, where the hair is longer and wavy on top and shaved on the sides.

Leonelly is believed to be in the company of his biological mother, 20-year-old Maria Jose Mendieta, who also goes by the names Maria Barron or Maria J. Rampa.  Investigators believe the pair may be traveling to Mexico or Uruguay, in violation of a court ordered custody arrangement.  Custody of the child was transferred to his mother on February 20, 2013.  According to the court order, Leonelly should have been returned to his biological father on Tuesday February 26, 2013, at 4:00 pm.

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults produced a flier for distribution. It is available at the following link:  Poster for Leonelly Barron

Maria has a tattoo of Snoopy and Charlie Brown.  She also has a tattoo of a star, which is located on her right hand.  The pair may be traveling with Alejandro Martinez, who lives in Mexico. They may be traveling in a navy blue, 1998 Plymouth Grand Voyager with Wisconsin license plate 477-JJP.  Additional photos of Leonelly and his mother, Maria, are available at the following links:

Photo of Maria Mendieta

Photo of Leonelly Barron

The Sauk Prairie Police Department is asking anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Leonelly Barron or his mother, Maria, to contact the Sauk Prairie Police Department at (608) 643-2427, or the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department at (800) 377-1195.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Department, the Wisconsin Department of Justice -- Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol are assisting with this investigation.

The Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults serves as a resource for law enforcement and families in cases involving missing and abducted children and adults.  The Wisconsin Clearinghouse works in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and forms part of a nationwide network that works to reunite missing and abducted children and adults with their families.  The Clearinghouse also participates in Wisconsin's AMBER Alert program.