Authorities still looking for 3 missing children

Three children whose mother was found dead with a plastic bag over her head are missing, and police want to question the father of two of the youngsters, authorities said Tuesday.

An Amber Alert has been issued for the three children and Benito Casanova, 32, who police describe as either the boyfriend or the husband of the dead woman, Sofia Garcia.

Court records show that Garcia had been granted an order of protection in February 2007 against Casanova that barred him from having contact with Garcia, her sisters or her children.

The order was valid until May 2009. But Salvador Leon, the landlord in the building where Garcia's body was found, told the Chicago Tribune in a story posted on its Web site Tuesday that Garcia and Casanova moved into the apartment in December.

In documents filed with the court, Garcia alleged Casanova had choked her and said he was "going to kill me because I did not want to be with him. He ALWAYS tells me that he is going to KILL me if I don't take him back, then kill himself."

Garcia's body was found in her northwest side apartment on Monday by family members worried they hadn't reached Garcia, 30, or the children in several days, police said.

The Amber Alert for 6-year-old Oscar Casanova, 7-year-old Karla Casanova and 11-year-old Fernando Casanova was issued Monday after Garcia's body was found. Police said Benito Casanova is the father of Fernando and Oscar.

The children were last seen Friday afternoon at their elementary school after classes let out, where police believe Casanova may have picked them up.

Casanova hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing. But police want to speak with him in regards to the children's disappearance as well as Garcia's death, which is being investigated as a homicide, said Chicago police spokeswoman JoAnn Taylor.

Taylor said police are still investigating whether the children were outside their elementary school building or inside when they were last seen.

The school's principal had not been notified of any order of protection against Casanova, according to Mike Vaughn, a spokesman for Chicago Public Schools. He said details of where the children were picked up would have to be left up to police.

Lorenza Valles, 40, lived upstairs from Garcia's apartment.

"She seemed like a good mom, worked hard for her kids," said Valles. Other neighbors said Garcia worked an overnight shift but was always home in time to take her children to school.

Casanova was described as about 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Authorities said Casanova and the three children may be traveling in a 2002 silver or gray Dodge Dakota, with Illinois license plate 86196HB. One plate is missing from the car, officials said. Taylor said it's unclear in what direction they could be traveling.