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Toddlers Allegedly Abducted By Parents Found Safe In Tustin, Four Arrested

Two young children, a 23-month-old and a seven-month-old, who were abducted by their biological parents from their grandparents' home in Hemet were later located in Tustin and are back with their grandparents Tuesday morning, and four people are in custody, authorities said.

The parents kidnapped the two toddlers Monday from the home of the children's grandparents, who had custody rights.

According to the grandparents, the children were taken away from the parents and placed in their custody due to mental health issues and drugs.

The Hemet Police Department began actively looking for 23-month-old Sione Stevens and 7-month-old Akanesi Stevens after the father, Samieula Stevens, and mother, Megan Sweesy, allegedly broke into the grandparents' home and abducted the two toddlers.

Tustin police located the vehicle the children's parents were believed to be driving about 11 p.m. Monday in the 14000 block of Newport Avenue and contacted sheriff's investigators, according to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The two parents were in the company of Hamani Stevens, who is the twin brother of the father.

Deputies said the parents, Samiuela Stevens and Megan Sweesy, along with Stevens' twin brother, Hamani, took the children from the grandparents about 11:45 a.m. Friday. The fourth person under arrest was not identified by authorities.

The children were returned unharmed to their grandparents.

City News Service contributed to this story.

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