Police say sex offender dad took young sons from Las Cruces daycare and fled to Juarez

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico -- Authorities in Las Cruces continued the search Wednesday for two brothers believed to have been taken from daycare by their convicted sex offender father, who may have hid the boys in Juarez.

After issuing a public plea for help Tuesday evening in locating the boys, a day later police said they were still looking.

A nationwide arrest warrant has been issued for 52-year-old Clarence Michael Ransom on charges of failure to register as a sex offender and non-compliance with a custodial agreement, Las Cruces police said.

Maverick Ransom, 3, and his 4-year-old brother Orion Ransom were last seen on Oct. 8, when police said their father picked them up from a Las Cruces daycare center and disappeared with them.

Police spokesman Dan Trujillo said there is "reason to believe Clarence Michael Ransom may have traveled to Ciudad Juarez the same day and returned to the United States the following day. It’s not known if he took his two sons with him and their whereabouts are unknown."

While Ransom shared custody of the boys with his wife, investigators said he had no authorization to travel with them. They said he was last seen driving a silver 2013 Toyota Camry with temporary tags.

Clarence Michael Ransom was described by authorities as 5-feet-11-inchces tall and weighing approximately 195 pounds. Maverick and Orion are each described as about 3-feet-6-inches tall and weighing approximately 30 pounds.

Trujillo urged anyone who knows where the father and/or sons are to call Las Cruces police immediately at (575) 526-0795. He said if someone outside of Las Cruces spots them, that person should contact their local police department or dial 911.