FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cherie Kerr at KerrPR (714) 550-9900, 714 836-1515, (714) 271-2140
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FELONY ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED IN SILAH CHILDREN’S CHILD ABDUCTION CASE
Mothers of missing sons plead for fathers to return the three boys unharmed
Los Angeles, Calif.--Felony arrest warrants have been issued for brothers George Silah and John Silah in connection with the abduction of their sons which occurred on or about July 2, 2008. The men, who have left a trail of evidence pointing to criminal acts, are reportedly running from their killers, who have left 44 threatening voice mail messages retrieved in early July from members of the Armenian community, and from whom the two brothers bilked more than five million dollars.
The felony arrest warrants were issued early Friday, August 1, 2008, after the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office determined that the disappearance of the three children, Alex, age twelve, his brother, Zaven, age eight, and their cousin, Greg, age ten, was a result of the felony child abduction criminal act (Penal Code 278.5) by the Syrian-born brothers who are the children’s fathers and who resided in Los Angeles before they fled leaving their rented home disheveled and in a state of disarray.
There is a half-million dollar bond on each of the brothers, according to the family law attorney for the mothers of the missing children, Ronald Brot of Brot & Gross in Sherman Oaks, Calif. “These children have been missing since early July and we have reason to believe they are in danger,” Brot stated. “We are hopeful that with these warrants the pursuit of the children will be stepped up considerably. We want these children home with their mothers where they belong.”
The arrest warrant citations are: George Silah-LACBA34428601 and for John Silah—LACBA34428602.
George and John Silah are considered to be armed and dangerous. They were last thought to be in a stolen, silver Infiniti G-35, plate number: 6DZS016 despite earlier reports that they had taken the three boys and fled to Syria.
Zanni Merguerian, mother of Alex and Zaven, and Christine Jeanbart, mother of Greg are pleading for the fathers to return their sons unharmed. “We’re begging them to drop the children off in a safe place so they may return home,” said Zanni Merguerian. “Our children must be terrified,” stated Christine Jeanbart.
On July 23, 2008, Judge Frederick Shaller of the Los Angeles Superior Court, ordered that an investigation be opened immediately by the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office to “locate, retrieve and return the minor children” to their mothers.
“If anyone has any information on the missing children and their fugitive fathers we are asking them to come forward,” Brot stated. “We need everyone’s help: the media, the public and any organizations dedicated to finding missing children.”
Those with information may call the family law offices of Brot & Gross, LLP in Sherman Oaks, Calif. at 818 594-0800 or the LAPD, Detectives Britton or Lopez at 310 482-6334.
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