BUXTON — A 28-year-old mother of two has been taken into custody, six days after she failed to return her children to their father.

Maine State Police say the children were safely returned to their guardian on Monday.

Their mother, Alanna Hurley of Buxton, is held without bail at York County Jail in Alfred following her arrest in Old Orchard Beach on a warrant charging she violated the terms of a custodial clause in a protection from abuse order. Hurley was also charged with criminal restraint by a parent. 

Maine State Police in Troop A received word on Jan. 2 that the Buxton woman had not returned the children to their father in Dayton after  a visit.

“Hurley had been served a court order that stated she needed to return the children after the weekend,” Maine State Police said in a social media posting. 

According to the statement, troopers learned Hurley had left Maine with the children and was possibly in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Troopers worked with the Conway Police Department during the week, but were unable to locate Hurley or the children, the statement continued, and officers attempts to contact her were unsuccessful.

As it turned out, said Trooper Zachary Fancy in a telephone interview, Hurley had been in New Hampshire, but then returned to Maine.

On Monday, troopers received information that Hurley was possibly at a residence in Old Orchard Beach. They and Old Orchard Beach Police went to the home, but, troopers said, Hurley initially refused to answer the door.

A family member spoke to the woman and she agreed to surrender and was taken into custody.

The children were located in the home.

Hurley is scheduled to make a first appearance on Wednesday at Springvale District Court via video link from the jail.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].