Amber Alert Issued
Amber Alert for 3-Month-Old Maxence Sirois Issued Amidst Conflicting License Plate Reports
Key Points
Inconsistent license plate reporting: CHP's Amber Alert lists the vehicle plate as YSJW989, while Hayward Police and other outlets cite 7SJW989, potentially hindering cross-jurisdiction searches.
Suspect description expanded in several reports: Marina Kazakova is described as about 42 years old, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 128 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes; she was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.
Custody details clarified: Police say Kazakova did not return the child to his father as required by a court-ordered custody agreement—an order that was issued on June 30.
Vehicle details and travel pattern: The suspect is believed to be driving a white 2016 Mazda CX-5 with plate 7SJW989; the car has been reported last seen in Kern County, with some reports indicating Northern California and possible movement toward Southern California.
California authorities issued a statewide Amber Alert on July 1, 2026, for 3-month-old Maxence Sirois, a bald infant with blue eyes weighing about 16 pounds, believed abducted by his mother Marina Kazakova in Hayward. LA Times reported the alert was activated at 5:30 a.m. by the California Highway Patrol on behalf of the Hayward Police Department, covering Alameda, San Joaquin, Kern, and Los Angeles counties.
Kazakova, 42, failed to return Maxence to his father on June 30 as required by a court-ordered custody agreement, according to CBS News. She is believed to be driving a white 2016 Mazda CX-5 with California plate 7SJW989 and was last seen near McBride Lane and Underwood Avenue in Hayward around 1 a.m. on June 28. Police warn the public not to approach her and to call 911 immediately if spotted.
Suspect Spotted Moving South Toward Los Angeles
Surveillance data placed Kazakova's vehicle in Kern County on the morning of July 1, suggesting she is moving south toward the Los Angeles area, according to KTVU. The rapid spread of the alert from the Bay Area into Southern California reflects that southward trajectory. Authorities have not confirmed a specific destination.
Kazakova is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall, 128 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans. Maxence is approximately 2 feet tall and has a bald head. His age — just 3 months — makes him especially vulnerable during extended travel, as noted by California's Amber Alert criteria under state law.
License Plate Discrepancy Could Slow Cross-Jurisdiction Search
A key detail in the case has been reported differently across agencies. Hayward Police and most media outlets, including LA Times and KTVU, list the vehicle's plate as 7SJW989. However, the CHP's initial alert reportedly used YSJW989. That single-character difference — a "7" versus a "Y" — matters because automated license plate reader systems match plates exactly. A wrong character means no hit at toll plazas or checkpoints.
Investigators and the public should use 7SJW989, which Hayward Police have confirmed as the correct plate, according to East Bay Times. Anyone who sees a white 2016 Mazda CX-5 matching this description should call 911 and reference Hayward Police case number 2026-035385.
Custody Order Violation Triggered Felony Investigation
A court-ordered custody agreement required Kazakova to hand Maxence to his father on June 30. She did not. The Hayward Police Department said Kazakova "failed to return Maxence to his father as required" and is believed to have fled to an unknown location, making this a felony child abduction case. NBC Los Angeles reported the alert was sent to residents across both Northern and Southern California.
In 2025, Alameda County recorded 39 parental or family abduction cases out of 1,684 total missing children reports, according to the California Department of Justice. Nationally, Amber Alerts have helped recover 1,312 children as of December 31, 2025, per the Office of Justice Programs. Cases involving infants under six months are given the highest urgency under California's alert threshold.
What to Do If You See the Suspect or Her Vehicle
Authorities are clear: do not approach Marina Kazakova. If you spot the white 2016 Mazda CX-5 with plate 7SJW989, call 911 immediately. Mercury News confirmed the Hayward Police Department is the lead agency on the case. Tips can also be directed to Hayward PD directly using case number 2026-035385.
The alert remains active across multiple California counties as of July 1. The infant has been missing since June 28 — more than three days. Every hour matters given Maxence's age and the distance Kazakova may have already traveled.
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