Zach Tautedi, who lives in the house above the basement apartment and who was there when Danielle Alonso was taken, said Danielle told him the day before that her father threatened to "grab her by her hair and drag her out of the apartment" when he arrived. Danielle Alonso called the sheriff's office saying she didn't feel safe due to past physical abuse, Hutson said. The last time Danielle talked to the sheriff's office, investigators told her to lock her doors and call 911 if her father showed up, Hutson said.

Just 90 minutes later, Danielle's parents arrived at the door of her apartment at 5810 S. 2100 East, Holladay. They had apparently purchased one-way airline tickets to Salt Lake City that morning. Rather than call 911, however, Danielle attempted to talk to her father. But as soon as she opened the door, she was grabbed and taken away, Hutson said.

Because of statements Danielle made about prior physical abuse from her father to her roommate and to the sheriff's office, officials issued an endangered person alert.

The Alonso family previously lived in Vernal. A search of state court records found no evidence that Daniel Alonso had faced any domestic violence or similar charges in the past, a fact Hutson confirmed.

Sheriff's detectives have electronically tracked the family to a few points along their trip back to Texas. The route, however, appears to be very indirect, according to Hutson, who said Daniel Alonso "is not your regular criminal." He's done a lot of things to avoid being caught.

The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office is expected to issue a warrant for Daniel Alonso's arrest Tuesday along with criminal charges.

Hutson said when police catch up to Daniel Alonso in Texas, he will immediately be arrested and booked into jail.

Daniel Alonso worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when he lived in Utah and, at one point, supervised the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge.

Anyone with information on Danielle Alonso can call the sheriff's office at 801-743-7000.

Contributing: Jacob Hancock

E-MAIL: preavy@desnews.com