Photo: Surveillance Image of Suspect Crystal Mendez and Victim Tayana Lewis | San Jose PD
Originally Published BY: San Jose PD
Surveillance Image of Child being taken | San Jose PD
“February 15, 2023, at approximately 3:00 PM, Patrol Officers responded to a residence in the 5000 block of Charlotte Drive to investigate a parental abduction of a two-year-old female toddler.
The child’s biological mother, suspect Crystal Mendez, does not have legal custody of the child, identified as Tayana Lewis. Mendez was at the residence earlier in the day before she abducted and fled with the child. She was seen boarding public transportation in San José, and subsequently arrived in the city of Oakland via BART. She was last seen leaving the Coliseum BART Station.
Mendez is a heavy drug user and has ties to San Francisco. Her last known residence was the basement of a home on Turk Street.
Suspect Crystal Mendez | San Jose PD
Mendez was last seen wearing:
White hooded jacket, black ripped skinny jeans, dark colored sneakers. She is 5’1” tall and weighs approximately 150 pounds. She has long brown hair and eyes.
Missing Child Tayana Lewis | San Jose PD
Toddler Tayana is two-years old, weighing approximately 25 pounds, brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white jacket with pink sleeves and blue colored pants. She was in a black and teal stroller.
If the Suspect or victim are seen, please call 911. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Hansen #3836 of the San José Police Department’s Family Violence Unit via email: 3836@sanjoseca.gov and/or at 408-277-3700.
Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.”
