LOCKPORT, N.Y. — The Niagara County Sheriff's office has an update on a three-year-long missing person case involving two children.
The sheriff's office had been looking for Katie Riford and her two children, Mason Riford and Olivia Riford-Diarbakerly, of Wheatfield. They were last seen on February 6, 2019.
The three were located on March 2 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
"She was able to stay off the radar in changing her name. The usual methods that we use to try to find people did not work, so it's my firm belief that she was getting help from family. We do believe that there's some family that live in that area, and she was also getting help from family back here," Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti said.
Katie Riford was taken into custody on two active warrants, one for custodial interference and one for violation of a family court order from Niagara County Family Court.
Riford is currently in custody and is in the process of being extradited back to Niagara County.
The sheriff thinks Riford was getting help from her family.
"What you're going to see on social media is assertions that Peter is an abusive father, she had to run and hide for her safety. I would recommend that you don't get your facts off of Facebook, that maybe family court and the sheriff's office and the D.A.'s office may know a little bit more about the case than what people are saying on Facebook. Essentially, when things weren't going her way in the family court, she decided to start making allegations; when things weren't going her way and then decided just not to appear. That was her solution to the problem," says Filicetti.
The sheriff would not talk about how Riford was getting money to rent an apartment in New Mexico, but did tell us she was not working and that she has family in New Mexico.
The children were taken into the care of the Department of Children and Family Services in Albuquerque.
"I was able to contact Peter last night, and when I did break that news to him, it was a very emotional phone call. The initial call and then I second call continued to be emotional throughout. I think he was very excited to hear the news," said Capt. Tracy Steen with the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Niagara County Sheriff's Office.
2 On Your Side's Kelly Dudzik will have more on this story on Channel 2 News First at 5 p.m.