Jan 30, 2023

Parents of kids taken during Neb. carjacking found not negligent

Posted Jan 30, 2023 5:33 PM

Update from Grand Island Police

Following an incident in which three children, ages 5 years, 1 year, and 7 months, were kidnapped during the theft of a car, the Grand Island Police Department has investigated the circumstances in which those children were in the car.

That investigation found no negligent behavior on behalf of the parents, who are victims in this case. The parents loaded the children in the running vehicle due to the cold, and engaged in very brief conversation with neighbors, at which time the suspects took opportunity to steal the running vehicle. These circumstances were corroborated by video evidence.

The children have all been treated and released, and reunited with their family, while the suspects remain in the custody of the Hall County Jail at this time.

The safety of our community, and the most vulnerable of them, our children, was the foremost consideration throughout this case, and we are thankful the outcome was not worse given the circumstances caused by the suspects.

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GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Three young children were being treated for frostbite in Nebraska Sunday after police said two suspects stole an SUV while they were inside.

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, when temperatures were around 0 degrees, a man reported that his 2012 Chevrolet Traverse had been stolen with his three children inside, said Grand Island Police. An 18-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were arrested with the SUV before authorities found the 5-year-old and 1-year-old around 5 a.m. inside a second vehicle that had been reported stolen in Kearney.

About half an hour later, the infant was found on the front porch of a farmhouse in Hall County. All three children had suspected hypothermia and frostbite.

The Traverse was involved in a police pursuit before officers knew about the children. Eventually, investigators tracked the Traverse to a rural area of neighboring Buffalo County, and arrested the suspects.

The teens are facing an assortment of charges including kidnapping and intentional child abuse.