An 18-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were taken into custody this week after allegedly agreeing to watch two toddlers overnight in Florida, but instead took the mother's car without permission and drove the children 1,000 miles to Wisconsin, where they abandoned them at a public park. Fortunately, the children were found unharmed.
Adalyn Jean Burkett and Marquan L. Edwards were arrested on Monday and charged with abduction, according to authorities. Burkett is facing charges of interfering with child custody and grand theft of an automobile, while Edwards is charged with being an accomplice in interfering with child custody.
According to a press release from the Bay County Sheriff's Office, the incident came to light on June 24, 2023, when the mother of the children contacted the sheriff's deputies to report that Burkett, whom she considered a friend, had taken her two children, aged 1 and 2, out of state without her knowledge or consent. The mother also claimed that Burkett had taken her car.
In her statement to law enforcement, the mother explained that she had spent the previous night with Burkett, during which Burkett agreed to babysit her two children the following night. The mother had given permission for Burkett to use her car, with the understanding that it would be returned on the morning of June 24.
However, when the mother tried to reach Burkett, she discovered that both Burkett and her children were no longer in Bay County and had left Florida. The Bay County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Unit immediately initiated efforts to locate the missing children.
Through their investigation, it was revealed that Burkett was accompanied by a man, identified as Edwards. They had traveled from Panama City, Florida, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the mother's car, bringing the two children with them on the approximately 16-hour drive.
An arrest warrant for Burkett was obtained on the evening of June 24, and the relevant information was promptly shared with the Milwaukee Police Department to assist in apprehending the suspects.
In response to the escalating situation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) issued a Missing Child Alert on June 25, seeking public assistance in finding the children, named DeKarsen Middleton (2 years old) and Delyla Middleton (1 year old).
The alert was widely disseminated through various media channels. Upon learning about the Missing Child Alert, the suspects apparently tried to distance themselves from the investigation and potential arrest by abandoning the children at a public park in Milwaukee, leaving the toddlers alone in a major metropolitan area.
The Milwaukee police found the children later that evening and took them to the local police station. Following a thorough investigation, the suspects were apprehended by U.S. Marshals at a residence in Milwaukee on June 26. The Milwaukee police are also conducting an investigation into their actions.
Comments
Post a Comment