EP Woman Pleads For Custody Of Abandoned Grandchildren

EL PASO, Texas — A grandmother is pleading for custody of her grandchildren after one of them was found scrounging through the trash last week.

Police said the three-year-old’s mother abandoned him in Madera, California last Friday, about 25 miles from Fresno.

Donna Martinez left California for El Paso last year. Her daughter and two grandchildren stayed in the state.

But Martinez’s daughter was behind bars Wednesday night and she wants her grandkids here in El Paso.

“They’re probably scared to death – poor little things. It’s not easy. I’m just looking for some type of help,” she said.

She said got a call from her sister-in-law this week, saying she saw Martinez’s grandson’s picture all over TV.

Police in Madera said 21-year-old Jessica Zarate abandoned her three-year-old son in a park last Friday.

Michelle Flores found him sifting through a trash can. “Oh, it was heartbreaking,” she toldouraffiliate KFSN in Fresno, California.

It wasn’t until Monday, after police released the boy’s picture to the media, that Zarate turned herself in.

But they say the next morning, she abandoned her other son, a two-year-old, then went to an ex-boyfriend’s house.

That’s where Zarate was found hiding in a closet and arrested. Both children were put in foster care.

Now Martinez is trying to get custody of her grandchildren, but she says she will need state financial aid. “I have no way of going over there to get them,” Martinez said. “I’m not in a financial position to go over there and get them. And that’s probably the worst part of this.”

She said she will need childcare support from the state of California until it is all sort out.

“It makes me feel very sick. It hurts my heart to see that anybody could do this to a child. These are my grandchildren. I’m distraught,” Martinez said.

Child Protective Services in Maderatold ABC-7they could not discuss this case, but they did say it is possible for guardians of California children to receive financial help from the state, even if those guardians live in another state. Martinez is now in touch with that agency.

To viewABC-7’s full interview with Martinez, click on the video link to the left.