From Amber Alert to Adoption: A Grandmother's Fight for Maxamillius

A Heartwarming Story of Family, Courage, and Community

In September 2024, a shocking event unfolded in Odessa, Texas, when the Ector County Sheriff’s Department received a distress call about the kidnapping of 6-year-old Maxamillius Dominguez. What followed was a dramatic sequence of events that ended in a heartwarming resolution—Max being officially adopted by his grandmother, Susie Tobar, just under a year later.

This story is more than just about a child being reunited with his family. It has transformed the lives of everyone involved, including the investigator who played a key role in bringing Max home. The journey from fear to hope shows the power of community support, personal bravery, and the strength of family bonds.

A Normal Day That Turned into a Nightmare

Susie Tobar recalls the day everything changed as a typical afternoon filled with family and friends. They were having a barbecue, enjoying each other's company, and everything seemed normal. But as the sun set and people began heading inside, something unusual caught her attention.

“I thought it was just one of the neighborhood kids, but it wasn’t. It was Max’s dad,” she said. At the time, Susie and Max were playing together before going inside. Suddenly, Max’s biological father appeared out of nowhere, claiming he was taking Max. At that point, Susie had temporary custody of Max after his parents lost their rights.

The situation quickly escalated. Max’s father tried to grab him, and Susie attempted to stop him. “He was going to hit me. He slapped the phone out of my hand, and he was going to hit me. And Max raised his hands and arms and said, ‘You’re not gonna hit my grandma.’ That’s when he grabbed him and threw him over his shoulder and started running with him,” she recalled.

Susie immediately called 911, and an Amber Alert was issued. This marked the beginning of a frantic search that would involve multiple agencies and the public.

A Community Comes Together

The response from the community was overwhelming. Nicholas Herrera, a criminal investigator with the Ector County Sheriff’s Office, described how the Amber Alert brought people together in a way that was rare for law enforcement.

“Once that Amber Alert was issued, the number of people involved and how many people were even willing to help… When we’re working cases, we’re kind of on our own and we help ourselves within our agency. But it’s good to see that the public wanted to help just as much as the surrounding agencies,” Herrera said.

Thanks to tips from the public and the efforts of multiple agencies, investigators eventually located Max’s biological father. However, Max was still missing. Later that day, his mother called the sheriff’s office and confirmed that Max was with her.

Within 24 hours, Max was safely returned to his grandmother, marking the end of a terrifying ordeal.

A Bond That Goes Beyond the Badge

For Susie Tobar, Max is more than just a grandchild—he is a source of joy and purpose. “He’s everything to me. God sent him to me for a reason. I don’t know why, but he’s… really funny. He talks a lot. He likes to talk to anybody, anywhere. He just wants to say hi to everybody— especially if it’s a police officer somewhere, even parked on the side of the road— he thinks we’re supposed to go say hi,” she shared.

Nicholas Herrera, the investigator who helped find Max, has developed a deep connection with the family. “He’s been there for us. He’s like my guardian angel,” Susie said. Herrera was even invited to Max’s adoption ceremony, which took place just a few weeks ago.

“It’s something that very few people, I think, get to experience in this line of work. Because once we’re done with a case, it’s kind of just a closed case. We don’t see the good side or the happy endings. The feeling in that is just very rewarding. It’s very rare that we get to experience those types of things,” Herrera reflected.

A Bright Future Ahead

Max, now 7 years old and preparing to start second grade, has a bright future ahead. He has formed a unique bond with Herrera, and his aspirations are clear.

“That’s what I want to be [police officer]. When I grow up, that’s what I wanna be because they help people, and yeah,” said Max.

Despite being sad that summer is over, Max is excited to see his friends again, play soccer at recess, and begin writing his new last name at school this year.

A Message of Gratitude

Susie and Max have expressed their gratitude for the prayers, messages, and support they’ve received from the community. They also thanked their family members for standing by them and acknowledged the efforts of the Odessa Police Department and the Ector County Sheriff’s Office.

They hope their story will inspire others and raise awareness about the importance of family, resilience, and the power of community.