The person at the center of this case
Francina Dacanay Fernandez
Missing Person · Open
21 years waiting · since 2004
FRANCINA DACANAY FERNANDEZ
Justice for Francina Dacanay Fernandez — the trail went cold in 2004, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
📍
location
Lead #1Why did Fernandez choose the Philippines as a destination, and does she have family connections there?
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evidence
Lead #2What happened to the children's passports that were supposed to be relinquished to the court?
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suspect
Lead #3Has Fernandez been located in the Philippines or elsewhere, and are the now-adult children still with her?
Francina Dacanay Fernandez disappeared in November 2004 after a San Diego family court ordered her not to take her three children out of state, but she fled anyway with the children, likely to the Philippines. She abruptly left her job and her passports were never returned to the court despite the judge's order. Federal authorities believe she took her children internationally in violation of custody orders, and she remains wanted for international parental kidnapping.
Case
#1120
FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation); San Diego County, California; United States District Court, Southern District of California
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4Who is the relative that filed the missing person report, and what information do they have about Fernandez's plans?
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timeline
Lead #5What was the exact date Fernandez left San Diego, and did she travel by air or other means with three children?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
International Parental Kidnapping - Detainment or Consealment of a Child From Legal Custodian During the course of their relationship, Francina Fernandez and her boyfriend had three boys, who are now adults. The couple never married and in June of 2001 the relationship ended.
The two became embroiled in a very lengthy and aggressive custody-visitation dispute in the San Diego Family Court. In early November of 2004, the mother reportedly mentioned to the father that she and the children were planning a 2-week vacation in New Zealand.
He told her that the trip would violate the court orders, and Fernandez's attorney was served with a notice of an ex-parte hearing scheduled for November 8, 2004. At the hearing, a judge ordered that neither parent could take the children out of the jurisdiction of the court and that the children's passports were to be relinquished.
The passports were never returned. Also, in November it was reported that Fernandez abruptly left her job and a relative filed a missing person's report for her.
Fernandez may have fled with her children to the Philippines. On December 9, 2004, a state warrant was issued in the state of California, San Diego County, charging Francina Dacanay Fernandez with three counts of child abduction.
A federal arrest warrant was subsequently issued on February 4, 2005, in the United States District Court, Southern District of California, charging Fernandez with international parental kidnapping. Remarks: Francina Fernandez has ties to California and the Philippines.
Timeline of Events
⏰
2001-06
Relationship ended
Francina Fernandez and her boyfriend ended their relationship, beginning custody disputes
🕵️
2004-11-08
Ex-parte hearing and court order
Judge ordered neither parent could take children out of court jurisdiction; passports to be relinquished but were never returned
👤
2004-11
Francina Fernandez and children disappear
Fernandez abruptly left her job; relative filed missing person report; believed to have fled with three children
🕵️
2004-12-09
State warrant issued
California, San Diego County issued warrant charging Francina Dacanay Fernandez with three counts of child abduction
🕵️
2005-02-04
Federal arrest warrant issued
United States District Court, Southern District of California issued federal warrant for international parental kidnapping
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:June 1, 2001
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:June 1, 2001
Last Updated:April 29, 2026