Police: Stolen Yacht Spotted with Father, Kidnapped Children Aboard

Bay City News Service—A yacht allegedly stolen from Alameda's Ballena Isle Marina by a man who had kidnapped his two children from South San Francisco earlier this week was spotted this morning in the waters off of Pillar Point Harbor, according to a police spokesman.

Christopher Maffei, 43, allegedly abducted his children Brooklynn, 3, and Devin, 2, at about 3 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of James Court. Police say Maffei then drove in a rental car to Ballena Isle Marina, where he stole a yacht named "Unleashed" and sailed away with the children.

A commercial fishing vessel apparently spotted the yacht around 4 a.m. today about 50 miles off the coast from Pillar Point Harbor in San Mateo County, South San Francisco police spokesman Sgt. Bruce McPhillips said. The operator of the fishing vessel notified the U.S. Coast Guard, and after police were alerted of the sighting, photos were sent to the fishing vessel that helped its operator confirm that it was indeed the stolen yacht, McPhillips said.

Coast Guard and police officials were en route to the area this morning, McPhillips said.

Coast Guard duty officer Corinne Gaines said a C-130 aircraft from the agency has located the vessel and is monitoring it from the air until crews can get to the scene by boat.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call South San Francisco police at (650) 877-8900.

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