The story of a kidnapping and sexual assault now has the attention of parents up and down the valley. But none more so than those whose kids attend the elementary school in the neighborhood where Cardenas was found.
What could be more simple than walking your kid to school? But for parents of viking elementary students, having a suspect charged with kidnap and sexual assault found in your neighborhood, this walk has now become anything but routine.
"I've got three and they just run ahead and that's okay most of the time. But now, no. We saw SWAT the other day and I was like, okay, come here."
It's now a hand's on approach, literally. With more and more watchful parents. Increasingly mindful of who could be around their kids.
"I think nowadays the term over-protective is not necessary. It's just some thing you have to do to ensure that your kids are safe."
And this lesson extends beyond these kindergarten students. Parents say they're now taking steps to keep their older kids safe as well.
"Her bus stop is right across the street from that house. She's got a phone and she's on the phone with me until she gets there every morning."
These walks to school won't stop. But now they'll be taken with more careful steps.
Other parents we spoke with say there is no such thing as too many watchful eyes, and they encourage those with school-age kids across the valley to work together to keep all kids as safe as they can.
TXT 24
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