A swift, multi-agency response led to the safe recovery of two endangered NW Missouri juveniles and the arrest of a kidnapping suspect on May 26 after surveillance equipment tracked the suspect's vehicle to New Mexico just hours after he fled the state.
MARYVILLE, MO — Two Missouri juveniles are safe and a man faces kidnapping charges after allegedly fleeing the state with the children, sparking a multi-agency, cross-country pursuit that ended in New Mexico on Tuesday.
The Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office received a court order at approximately 12:30 p.m. on May 26 to transport two juveniles who were in the legal custody of the State of Missouri Children’s Division, according to a statement from Sheriff Austin Hann.
The children had been living in Nodaway County with a male subject and a third juvenile. Authorities noted the man was not the biological parent of the children and held no parental rights.
When deputies attempted to serve the court order at 12:55 p.m., the residence was empty and the man's vehicle was missing. After multiple phone calls to the suspect went unanswered, authorities utilized surveillance equipment to track the vehicle.
By 1:09 p.m.—just 39 minutes after the initial welfare check—the vehicle was spotted more than 700 miles away, traveling near Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
According to the Children’s Division, the suspect was fully aware he was legally barred from leaving Missouri with the children without prior authorization, which had not been requested. Following the discovery, officials issued an Endangered Person Advisory for the juveniles and obtained an arrest warrant for the male subject on kidnapping charges.
The cross-country flight ended at approximately 9:12 p.m. when New Mexico authorities intercepted the vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody without incident and both juveniles were safely recovered.
"I'm incredibly proud of my deputies and the quick coordination between the Nodaway County Sheriff's Office, the United States Marshals Service, New Mexico State Police, and all assisting agencies in New Mexico," Sheriff Hann said in a statement. "As a result of everyone's collective efforts, two endangered juveniles were safely recovered and a suspect was taken into custody without incident, all within a matter of hours."
Hann expressed gratitude for the "excellent teamwork shown by agencies across the country" to ensure the children's safe return to the community.
The identity of the suspect and the names of the juveniles have not been released. Police say the investigation remains ongoing and no further details are available at this time.
Maryville Public Safety - 05/03 to 05/29/26
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