Mom accused of abducting 3 sons back in South Fla.

Carrie Weingarth being held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center

MIAMI – A woman accused of abducting her three sons and driving them across the country is back in South Florida.

Carrie Weingarth was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami early Thursday morning.

Police said she picked up her 12-year-old son from school on Valentine's Day and, with her two younger sons and boyfriend, drove to California.

A week later, Weingarth was taken into custody and held at a California jail.

Meanwhile, her children -- Erin Pena, 12, Steven Pena, 8, and Derick Pena, 7 -- were reunited with their father.

Weingarth did not have legal custody of one the boys.

A judge set her bond at $1 million and ordered her not to take custody.

"They're going to have to prove that a crime was actually committed," attorney Rick Yabor said.

Court documents show Weingarth signed accusations of domestic violence against the father, but they were never filed.

As well, the Florida statute under which she is charged provides 10 days for a parent to explain why he or she took a child.


About the Authors:

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."

Elsa Bolt is a South Florida native and an Emmy Award Winning Executive News Producer. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Miami in 2008, she entered the news industry and has spent most of her career with Local 10 News.