Abducted kids, father found in Florida

KEY WEST, Fla. (KRQE) - The El Dorado man with a violent past who disappeared with his three kids last week was arrested in Florida on Sunday.

Stephen Hilla picked up his kids from his ex-wife last Tuesday to take them to lunch and never returned.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department issued a warrant for his arrest and police across the country were on the lookout.

After nearly a week traveling across the county, Hilla was found in Key West, Florida at a state park.

Someone called police for an animal welfare check after they saw Hilla had left his two dogs in his truck.

A Florida parks police officer responded. "He ran the individual in the NCIC computer and the warrant came up," Investigator Larry Flynn of the New Mexico Probation and Parole division said. "Mr. Hilla was arrested and his children were placed in safe custody."

Johanna Hilla is the mother of the three children. She said the past few days have been agonizing not knowing if or when her children would ever come home.

"That was the best phone call that I could have gotten today," Hilla said.

She said she is thankful her kids are coming home.

"Im going to give them biggest hug in the world," Hilla said. "I am trying to figure out how i am going to hug all three of them at once without falling over in the airport."

Stephen Hilla will be coming home too, but without his kids and in handcuffs.

"I know he wanted to spend some time with his kids," Flynn said. "But this was a bad way to do it, and now it's going to be a long time before he sees them again."

Investigators said Stephen Hilla will be charged with custodial interference. He will also face punishment for violating the terms of his probation.

U.S. Marshals or New Mexico authorities will bring Hilla back to the state within the next few days.