UPDATE 2: Two jailed in Willows kidnap case

Two people were in jail Friday night in Willows, accused of kidnapping two children earlier in the day.

Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, of Covelo and Melissa Britton, 45, of Willows were being held in the Glenn County Jail.

An Amber Alert was put out for two Willows children. The girls' mother, Nancy Martinez, who was dating Tuttle but broke up a week ago and moved back to family in Willows, reported the children missing. Tuttle is not their biological father, police said.

The California Highway Patrol said the children, ages 5 and 2, where found with Tuttle at his Covelo home.

The children, Randi Nylaya Martinez, 2, and Vanessa Autumn Martinez, 5, are back with their mother, officials said.

Willows police received a call about 11 a.m. from Nancy Martinez, who reported that her children had been taken about 9:30 by her former boyfriend.

That man was identified as Tuttle.

The Amber Alert was immediately issued. It was called off shortly before 3 p.m.

“Reportedly, Tuttle arrived in Willows (Thursday) night and they discussed a reunification of the relationship. Martinez said she refused,” Willows police Chief Bill Spears said in a statement.

“(Friday) morning, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Tuttle was visiting with the children at her family’s home. While she was distracted,” the police statement reads, “he left with the children to reportedly buy them each a gift at Walmart in Willows.”

Family checked the store and area parks, but Tuttle and the children were not found.

Martinez reported that Tuttle did have a history of violence, Spears reported.