Abducted boy's parents in custody fight

Nicholas Michael Farber

PALM DESERT, California (CNN) -- Police investigating the kidnapping of 9-year-old Nicholas Michael Farber from his home here early Wednesday have made a plea for the boy's mother, Debra Rose, to come forward and talk to them about the case.

"Debra, please contact us. We need to talk to you," acting Riverside County Sheriff Bob Doyle told reporters. Doyle added that she is not considered a suspect.

FBI agents have so far been unable to locate Rose, 38, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Nicholas' parents have been fighting over his custody in an ongoing court case, said Capt. Patrick McManus of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The father, Michael Farber, 47, currently has custody.

"We do know there are some personal problems between him [father] and the boy's mother. There was a bad relationship," McManus said.

The abduction took place early Wednesday after two men forcibly entered the single-story home of Nicholas and his father in Palm Desert. They assaulted the father and left with Nicholas in a what authorities believe was a white SUV, possibly a GMC Yukon. The license plate is unknown.

Police said the suspects left behind several weapons. The father, who told authorities he did not know the men, said he saw several other men in the vehicle parked outside.

Abduction 'well planned'

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"It was certainly well planned. There was some thought that went into this. It doesn't appear to be a random situation," Doyle said at an evening press conference. "These suspects came in with a mission and accomplished their mission."

In addition to the SUV, law enforcement officials have also issued an alert for another vehicle, a gray 2002 GMC pickup with an extended cab that is being characterized as a "witness vehicle." It bears a temporary paper license plate from Colorado with the number H12197.

"We had information that Debra Rose had access to this vehicle," said FBI agent Richard Garcia.

Doyle said, "We need to locate the people driving this vehicle. We need to talk to them."

Doyle said it was unclear who owns the pickup because it was recently purchased and the registration paperwork is still being processed. Debra Rose's vehicle, which is similar to the one driven by the abductors, was parked at her Colorado home at the time Nicholas disappeared.

Police call case stranger abduction

McManus said investigators were checking the custody angle but for now considered the case an abduction by a stranger.

"Our concern is Nicholas' safety and where he is at this time," Doyle said.

Nicholas is described as about 4 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair with blond highlights. He was last seen wearing Fruit of the Loon underwear briefs.

One of the suspects was described as 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 175 pounds, with short, dark, slicked-back hair and a goatee. He was wearing dark clothes and carrying a black backpack.

Authorities described the second suspect as 6 feet 3, 250 pounds, with dark skin. He was wearing dark sweats and a brown nylon stocking over his head and face.

Police distributed a composite drawing of one of the suspects late Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department at 760 836-3215.

Farber was brought to the emergency room at Eisenhower Medical Center in nearby Rancho Mirage shortly before 3 a.m. with bruises on his face, head and chest. He was treated and released about two hours later, said spokeswoman Mary Kay Plock.

Debra Rose has been married at least three times. One of her ex-husbands, Stan Rose, said he has also been in a custody dispute with her and has sought restraining orders against her. He said he has taken precautions to safeguard his children, ages 5 and 6.

Debra and Stan Rose have both filed petitions for restraining orders against each other, according to Doug Miles, a deputy district attorney in El Paso County, Colorado. A hearing on a restraining order request has been scheduled Thursday morning.

Debra Rose has been charged with violating an earlier temporary restraining order, Miles said. Her trial on that charge has been set for October 9. Except for that charge, Miles said she has no criminal record in Colorado.

Riverside County authorities have been involved with several high-profile kidnapping cases this summer.

Earlier this month, a 10-year-girl was abducted from her Riverside, California, home and was recovered safely in Nevada. Her 68-year-old baby sitter was arrested and charged in the case.

Last month, a Riverside County man was arrested and charged in the kidnapping and killing of 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, who was abducted from in front of her home in a neighboring county. Her body was found dumped in a rural area of Riverside County.