Update: Missing La Pine woman, children found safe in Idaho; husband arrested
Man accused of violating restraining order
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- A missing La Pine woman and her three children have been found safe in Idaho and her husband, who she had a restraining order against, has been arrested, Deschutes County sheriff's deputies said Thursday.
Patrick Garcia was arrested in Idaho County for violation of a restraining order, Sgt. William Bailey said.
Investigators now believe Trisha Jepsen was willingly with Garcia when they left Deschutes County on Wednesday, Bailey said, adding that the agency's understanding is that "they are married, but have been separated for a while."
"I am glad the mother and her kids were found safe," Sheriff Shane Nelson said. "The successful closure to this investigation highlights the hard work and exceptional service to community accomplished by our teammates in detectives and patrol. It would not have been as efficient without the strong partnerships we have with other agencies and our community.”
Jepsen, 30, and her three children -- an 11-year-old boy and two girls, 3 and 1 -- last had been seen Monday at their home in the 517000 block of Little Deschutes Lane, Bailey said Wednesday.
Jepsen's family reported them missing Wednesday morning after having not being seen or heard from since Monday, Bailey said.
Deputies and detectives were able to locate video surveillance of Jepsen in Redmond on Tuesday and in Bend on Wednesday that showed she and her children were with Garcia, 52, of La Pine. Bailey said Jepsen had an active restraining order against Garcia.
Based on the video surveillance, investigators believe they were buying food and possibly camping gear.
Jepsen is driving a 1998 light blue Plymouth Voyager with front-end damage, the sergeant said. No license plate info is available for the van, as investigators learned she purchased it only recently.
