*Mother suspected of child abuse, daughters, vanish

*Updated:

SOUTH EL MONTE -- Authorities sought the public's help Saturday in finding a woman with a history of child abuse who disappeared along with her young daughters as officials investigated new allegations against her.
Alma Beatriz Frias of South El Monte and her 2-month-old and 2-year-old daughters went missing on May 15 after Frias fled her home, sheriff's officials said. Two possible birthdates were provided by sheriff's officials that indicate Frias is either 29 or 31.
Officials from the Department of Children and Family Services went to Frias' house in the 1600 block of Bunker Avenue to look into new allegations of child abuse and take her 2-year-old and 2-month-old daughters into protective custody, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Deputy Byron Ward said in a written statement.
"Upon their arrival, Frias ran from the residence without her daughters and has not been seen since," the statement said.
The daughters were not found inside the home, authorities said, and since they also have not been seen since May 15, they are presumed to be with Frias.
According to court records, a woman of the same name born on one of the birthdates provided by officials was convicted in late 2003 of child abuse causing great bodily injury or death.
Further details of the 2003 incident were not available Saturday.
The missing mother is now suspected of new acts of child abuse, Ward said.
The Sheriff's Department was asked to step into the investigation by DCFS officials in recent days, officials said.
Calls to the DCFS Saturday went unanswered.
The sheriff's detective handling the investigation also could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Frias is described as a Latina woman standing about 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau 24-hour tip line at (866) 247-5877.