Mom, 31, accused of kidnapping her 3 kids says it was a ‘misunderstanding’

A 31-year-old woman accused of abducting her three children over the weekend, all of whom who have since been located, announced today that she will be turning herself in on Monday after speaking to the media about what’s being described as a “misunderstanding.”

In a media release issued by the Los Angeles Police Department Sunday morning, authorities were asking for help in locating 14-year-old Mar-Naiya Shelton, 12-year-old Major Shelton and 6-year-old Jeneral Wellace-Peterson, who had last been seen around 9 a.m. on July 6 in the 2000 block of West Florence Avenue in South L.A.

Authorities identified the children’s mother as Timberly White and stated the 31-year-old “does not have custodial rights of the children.”

By Sunday afternoon, police said the children had been located and that they were currently with a family member.

Timberly White
Timberly White

In an email to KTLA sent by civil rights activist Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope, White said that “she was falsely accused of kidnapping her 3 children.”

The email went on to explain that Ali will be escorting the 31-year-old mother of three to “help to ensure her safety and to clear up this misunderstanding.”

“This matter is nothing more than a custody dispute between family members,” Ali said in the news release. “Timberly is concerned about her safety and reputation and wants to meet with law enforcement officers immediately.”

According to the email, Ali and White have planned a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday morning outside the 77th Street Police Department, located at 7601 South Broadway.

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