Willmar, Kandiyohi County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Willmar woman is charged in a child custody case that spans states.
Ana Maria Marquez Lopez, 40, is charged with one felony count. The charge is Deprive Custody or Parent Rights. It alleges she refused to return a minor child.
Court records say the missing child is her 5-year-old grandson. The child has not been returned as of January 14, 2026.
What the complaint says
The complaint names the child’s mother as Maria Jose Delgado Marquez. Records say she reported the case on January 7, 2026.
She told investigators her mother and stepfather took the boy without permission.
The case began in July 2025, while the family lived in St. Paul. Marquez Lopez asked to take the child to New York. The mother denied out-of-state travel.
About a week later, the complaint says, Marquez Lopez and the child were gone. The mother later moved to Willmar. The child remained out of state, records say.
Tracking and alleged misdirection
The mother told investigators she demanded the child’s return many times. She said Marquez Lopez yelled at her during calls. She also said her mother threatened to flee to Honduras.
The complaint says the suspects gave false addresses to mislead the mother. Records list Iowa and Maine as two locations shared with her.
The mother said she tracked Marquez Lopez near Washington, D.C. The complaint says she used location details tied to the DoorDash app.
Investigators say the suspects also sent flight screenshots. The images claimed a trip from Fargo to Montreal. The complaint says it was a ruse to get the child’s U.S. passport.
In January 2026, the mother received a request for money, records say. The request claimed the child had not eaten in a while.
Charges and court action
Marquez Lopez is charged under Minnesota Statute 609.26. The filing lists subdivision 1, clause (6). It also cites subdivision 6(a)(1).
Records list January 7, 2026 as the alleged offense date. The case was filed in court on January 14, 2026.
A nationwide warrant was signed on January 14, 2026, records say. The warrant was signed by Judge Dwayne Knutsen.
A co-defendant, Darwin Ariel Hernandez Madrid, faces similar charges. The complaint describes him as the child’s step-grandfather.
Anyone with information should contact local law enforcement. You can also review resources from the Minnesota BCA Missing Persons Clearinghouse or NCMEC.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.