Two teenage sisters reported missing by their father since Sunday night after a church event - and whose disappearance was publicized on Facebook - are safe and accounted for, Valley Christian School administrators told NBC Bay Area on Wednesday morning.
That news was confirmed Wednesday afternoon by San Jose police.
Police said in a media advisory they were "safely located and are with their biological mother." Police also said that the entire incident was related to a child custody matter.
Madeline and Emily Dorcich, ages 16 and 13, were last seen Sunday night around 7:15 p.m., at a church event held at Del Mar High School in San Jose, according to their father Chuck Dorcich, who set up a Facebook page Tuesday in an effort to draw attention to the search for the missing children.
Late Tuesday, Dorcich said on camera that he was "beside himself," sick with worry over his daughters' whereabouts. But when NBC Bay Area told him the girls were found about 7 a.m. on Wednesday, he answered the phone briefly, stating only: "I'm hearing the same things you are, but I haven't confirmed anything myself."
San Jose police told NBC Bay Area on Wednesday that there was no active search for the girls, even though the missing persons case was still technically open. Detectives said they do not suspect foul play and confirmed there is a child custody issue at hand.
Here's the entire advisory from the San Jose police department:
Local
The two missing sisters (Madeline and Emily Dorcich) have been safely located and are with their biological mother. The entire incident was related to a child custody matter that will have to be resolved in family court. No criminal acts were committed and the San Jose Police Department will be closing out the case and no further action will be taken.
No other information is being released.
