Indiana mother faces murder charges in death of son, daughter

A mother has been arrested on two counts of murder after her son and daughter were found dead in a vehicle in northern Indiana, and early Tuesday police found the body of a man who they believe was an acquaintance of the woman.

Elkhart police said Monday evening that they believe the children found dead that afternoon are siblings Liliana Hernandez, 7, and Rene Pasztor, 6. Police had issued an Amber Alert for the children earlier Monday, saying they were "believed to be in extreme danger."

Police released no details about how the children died. Autopsies are scheduled Tuesday morning in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Elkhart police said the children's mother, 29-year-old Amber Pasztor, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was arrested Monday on two counts of murder. She was being held in the Elkhart County jail and has yet to be formally charged.

Elkhart is 70 miles northwest of Fort Wayne.

Capt. Steve Stone of the Allen County Sheriff's Department said officers were searching for 65-year-old Frank Macomber, who authorities believe was with Pasztor at some point Monday, when they found the body of an older male early Tuesday in a wooded area near Macomber's Fort Wayne home.

An autopsy is planned Tuesday to determine the man's identity and cause of death.

Pasztor did not have legal custody of the children, police said. The Allen County Sheriff's Department in Fort Wayne, Indiana, said the children were taken from Fort Wayne. Police declined to say who the children were living with when they were abducted or why they were taken.

The Associated Press left phone and email messages with the Elkhart County prosecutor's office seeking comment early Tuesday.

Elkhart police Sgt. Chris Snyder told The Elkhart Truth that the mother cooperated with officers as she was handcuffed and didn't appear to be suffering from any physical injuries.

"She wasn't resistant at all," Snyder said. "She actually approached the officer and stopped and made contact with him."