Child Abducted from Robertson County Recovered in New Mexico

Waco, TX – The United States Marshals Service’s Lone Star Fugitive Task Force is pleased to announce that on April 2, 2013, an abducted child from Robertson County, TX, was found near Silver City, New Mexico.

In August 2012, Brian Keith Moore, 29, and Madeline McCartney-Moore, 26, abducted their biological child, 6, during a court ordered week long visitation. When the Moore’s failed to return the child to the legal guardians, Timothy and Tracey Moore, the guardians contacted the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation by the Sheriff’s Office revealed that the Brian and Madeline Moore had moved out of their home near Hearne, TX; turned their livestock loose on the streets; turned off utilities and closed bank accounts. It was suspected that the family was being assisted by Michael McCartney, Madeline McCartney-Moore’s father and grandfather to the child.

The Robertson County Sheriff’s Office sought and received felony arrest warrants for Brian Moore and Madeline McCartney-Moore for Violation of Court Order. The Sheriff’s Office also requested the assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service because it was believed that the Moore’s had left the state. The Sheriff’s Office also registered the child as an abducted child with NCMEC, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

In February 2013, the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office received information that Michael McCartney had contacted a friend or family member by phone. The person passed on the information to the investigator. This break allowed investigators to focus on the western New Mexico and eastern Arizona area. On February 1, 2013, the investigators discovered that the family had shopped at a local grocery store in Show Low, Arizona. Video surveillance footage showed that Michael McCartney and the abducted child were together along with all the other family members. With that information, the Robertson County Sheriff’s Office sought and received a felony arrest warrant for Michael McCartney charging him with Interference with Child Custody.

On April 2, 2013, investigators received information that the Moore’s may be staying in an area between Silver City, NM and Santa Clara, NM. Investigators located vehicles owned and utilized by the family on Camino Oro Road in rural Grant County, NM. After hours of surveillance, Grant County Sheriff’s Office deputies and U.S. Marshal’s Service deputies approached the trailer where Brian Moore was seen coming and going earlier in the evening. When investigators made entry into the trailer, investigators found the abducted child along with Brian Moore, Madeline McCartney-Moore and Michael McCartney. The child was unharmed and was taken into protective custody. Brian, Madeline and Michael were all arrested and taken to the Grant County Jail, Silver City, NM, where they await extradition back to Central Texas. Brian and Madeline Moore’s two other children were turned over to Child Protective Services.

“Crimes against children will not be tolerated at any level, and we will continue to utilize our state, local and federal partners and all of our national resources to protect our children”, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Texas, Robert Almonte said.