AMBER Alert: URGENT search for three children believed to be with a convicted sex offender & in grave danger

Officials are still searching for three young children who disappeared from Connecticut on February 16, and spotted in Texas three days later.

An AMBER Alert has been issued for Maddison McGrath, 7; Dylan McGrath, 5; and 2-year-old Maryah Matthew. The children disappeared from a McDonald’s restaurant off of Reidville Drive in Waterbury, during a supervised visit with their non-custodial mother, Crystal McGrath, 29, who reportedly violated conditions of the visit after she left with the children.

The suspect’s license plate was read after her vehicle was spotted driving westbound on I-10 in Sealy, Texas, at around 10 p.m. CST on February 19.

McGrath is believed to be with her boyfriend, 38-year-old Lester Joy. According to the Department of Justice, Joy is a convicted sex offender. In 2002, he was convicted of sexual assault, endangering the welfare of a child, and theft in Connecticut. He is a lifetime member of the sex offender registry.

Several years later, according to Patch, Joy was convicted in New York on charges of rape, criminal sexual acts and disseminating indecent material to a minor.

Crystal McGrath and Lester Joy [Police Handout]
McGrath stands 5-feet-4-inches tall and weighs around 150 pounds. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Lester Joy stands 5-feet-5-inches tall weighs about 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. The pair may be driving a red or maroon 2002 Volvo S60, with Connecticut license plate number, 417-YTY.

  • Maddison stands 4 feet tall, weighs around 75 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a sweat suit with leopard prints.
  • Dylan stands 3 feet tall and weighs around 45 pounds. He has brown hair, green eyes and was last seen wearing blue pants with a white stripe, a white and blue sweater, and black shoes.
  • Maryah stands 2 feet tall and weighs around 30 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing blue pants, a white vest with gold hearts over a white shirt, and black boots with heart prints on them.

Maddison McGrath Dylan McGrath and Maryah Matthew
Maddison McGrath, Dylan McGrath and Maryah Matthew [Photo: NCMEC]
Anyone with any information should call 911 immediately or the Waterbury Police Department at 203-574-6911.

[Feature Photo: Maddison McGrath, Dylan McGrath and Maryah Matthew/ NCMEC]