Oregon Toddler Joshua Ovalles Recovered in Lake Oswego After Custody Dispute

Beaverton police announced on October 8, 2026, that three year old Joshua E. Ovalles, reported missing a day earlier and the subject of an Oregon AMBER Alert, had been located safely in Lake Oswego. He was reunited with his father. The account below follows the Beaverton Police Department FlashAlert release and reporting from KPTV, KATU and KVAL. It does not invent quotes, motives or details officials have not released.

I cover recoveries like this because missing children cases are not abstractions. They are families in crisis, officers working through the night, and communities asked to watch carefully. When a child comes home, the story still deserves dignity, clear sourcing and a reminder of where tips belong.

What Officials Said Happened

According to Beaverton PD, a Washington County judge granted temporary custody of Joshua to his father and determined the child was in immediate danger while in his mother's unsupervised custody. Police said Mari Martinez then took Joshua after that court decision.

Officer Matt Henderson told local outlets that surveillance video showed Martinez leaving her apartment complex near Southwest Western and Southwest Fifth avenues on foot with the boy around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 6. Police said she left court after the ruling, picked Joshua up from her parents, who had been caring for him, and then disappeared from contact.

An AMBER Alert followed on Wednesday. Authorities later canceled the vehicle based alert after investigators determined Martinez was not driving the SUV they had described. The search for the child continued.

How Joshua Was Recovered

Beaverton PD said Joshua was located safely in the City of Lake Oswego after Martinez dropped him off at the home of a trusted individual. After leaving him there, Martinez fled the area, and a coordinated search began to find her.

Officers and detectives from the Beaverton Police Department worked with personnel from the Lake Oswego Police Department and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office. A Lake Oswego detective ultimately located Martinez, who was taken into custody.

Following his recovery, Joshua was reunited with his father. Beaverton PD said photographs released with the statement captured that reunion. The father declined to comment to local reporters. That choice is his, and it should be respected.

Charges and What Remains Under Investigation

Martinez was in Beaverton police custody and faced charges of custodial interference and kidnapping, according to the department. Oregon State Police and Beaverton PD said investigation of the case continued after the recovery.

The department thanked Lake Oswego police, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and community members who shared information and helped bring attention to Joshua's disappearance. In the FlashAlert statement, Beaverton PD said it was grateful that Joshua had been found safe and was back with his father.

Why These Stories Matter

AMBER Alerts exist because minutes matter and public eyes can close a gap law enforcement cannot cover alone. This case also shows how quickly facts can change. An alert can be issued, a vehicle description can fall away, and the child can still be recovered through patient, multi agency work.

I will keep writing about missing children and unsolved harms when official sources speak, without sensationalism and without inventing what is not known. Families should not have to compete with rumor for attention. Tips in active missing persons cases belong with law enforcement or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tip line at 1-800-THE-LOST, not with social media speculation.

For readers who follow these cases, the useful takeaway is simple. Share verified alerts from official channels. Do not circulate unverified photos or accusations. And when a child is recovered, pause long enough to remember that the outcome was never guaranteed. Joshua Ovalles is home with his father because officers, partner agencies and a community paid attention. That is what good coverage should honor.