Pair sought in kidnapping of dead woman’s 3 young children

Authorities in Los Angeles County were searching Wednesday for two people suspected of kidnapping the three young children of a woman found dead last week on the side of a road near Gorman.

The dead woman’s sister, Brittany Humphrey, 22, and Humphrey’s boyfriend, Joshua Robertson, 27, were last seen with the three children, who are all younger than 5, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities believe that Humphrey and Robertson took the children sometime either before or after their mother’s murder. The two are wanted for kidnapping and are also considered persons of interest in the homicide case.

“Immediately after the murder or sometime shortly after, it is suspicious that they did not come forward to Law Enforcement and instead fled,” said Lt. Joe Mendoza of L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide. “Definitely, the children are at risk.”

The couple is believed to be headed Eastbound on the 40 freeway, and sources have reported they’ve reached as far as New Mexico.

The Sheriff’s Department said they were probably driving a 1999 Ford Expedition, which could have either paper plates or the California license plate 7BEK024. Different witnesses have given different accounts of the car’s color, indicating it may be silver or forest green.

The vehicle may have a rear sticker that reads, “R.I.P. Chad Watkins,” a decal with a six-person, stick-figure family, or camouflage duct tape at the base of the car on the outside.

The missing children’s mother, Kimberly Harvill, was found dead Aug. 14 along Gorman Post Road in Lebec, close to the county’s border with Kern County.

A motorist who was taking a rest during a long drive spotted the slain woman lying in the roadside brush. She had multiple upper body gunshot wounds and trauma to the head, which led authorities to conclude she was murdered.

Investigators initially had difficulty identifying the victim, who had distinct tattoos such as a Playboy bunny logo, a red cross and the names “Braden” and “Rylee” on her body. Detectives released a composite sketch of the woman and sought the public’s help to identify her.

“Thankfully, due to the press coming out and putting that out, we were able to identify the victim,” Lt. Joe Mendoza of L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide said in a Wednesday press conference.

Detectives determined that Harvill and the kidnapping suspects formerly lived in the city of Fresno, but were staying in Lebec in the days prior to the murder.

“They were known to go from motel to motel,” Mendoza said.

The missing children are Joslynn Watkins, 2; Brayden Watkins, 3; and Rylee Watkins, 5. Their father is believed to be deceased.

The suspect couple has family in Nebraska as well as ties in Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Robertson, who has a criminal history and a previous arrest for possession of a firearm, and Humphrey are considered armed and dangerous.

“Out of precaution, people should not approach them,” Mendoza said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact their local police immediately. They can also notify the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or provide information via Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

Twitter: @MattHjourno

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