Local

This happened in Mendocino County

Redwood Valley, Ukiah, Potter Valley: the local record.

The child is being kept in Redwood Valley, at the home of Judith and Michael Hyler, with Vincent Hyler, according to the verified complaint (¶ 75). Judith Hyler has owned Stan’s Maple Cafe on South State Street in Ukiah since 2022; she and Vincent Hyler were served with the first lawsuit there on October 26, 2026. The custody order was made at the Mendocino County Superior Court in Ukiah on February 11, 2026, after a hearing; the August 12, 2026 order that was used to take the child was made at the same courthouse without notice to the mother. The Mendocino County District Attorney’s investigator contacted Vincent Hyler’s lawyer before declining to act (DA’s email, September 8, 2026). The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office declined a welfare check on September 28, 2026, “taking the DA’s position,” and has never entered the child in the state missing-person system. The lawsuit alleges (¶ 65) that Vincent Hyler drank every weekend at a relative’s home in Potter Valley, often with the baby there up to ten hours on a Saturday, and drove home intoxicated. In March 2026 he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in Mendocino County (People v. Hyler, No. 25CR09666) and is on probation.

If you live here and have seen J.J. since August 19, 2026, write to me. You can leave your name out.

Every statement about a court proceeding on this page is drawn from a filed court record, cited by case number. J.J. is referred to by his initials. No photograph of him appears on this site.