Your News Now at Six - 8/28/18
We have some good news as Lima police have confirmed the four children abducted from Lima earlier today have been found, in Hardin County.
The children are unharmed and safe, in temporary custody of Allen County Children Services. The children were found after an extensive investigation and search involving the FBI and multiple local law enforcement agencies. The two adults involved in the abduction, their non-custodial mother, Marianne Merritt, and her boyfriend Charles Perkins attempted to flee, as law enforcement converged on a home in Kenton, but were taken into custody.
Charles Perkins was arrested on an active warrant out of Allen county, Marianne Merritt, the children's mother, is being held on suspicion of interference with custody, pending other formal charges.
The four children, now safe, had previously been last seen in a home on North Main Street in Lima around 1:30 a.m. this morning.
Law enforcement had initially turned its attention to the Daytona Beach, Florida area where they believed the mother and boyfriend were headed.
Update - 5:06 PM, 8/28/18 on behalf of Steven J. Stechschulte
After an extensive search and investigation, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, in Allen and Hardin Counties, as well as the FBI, the 4 missing juveniles have been located at a residence in Kenton, Ohio. The children are unharmed and safe in the temporary custody of the Allen County Children's Services. Charles Perkins and Marianne Merritt, who attempted to flee when law enforcement converged on the residence, were taken into custody without incident. Charles Perkins was arrested on an active warrant, through The Allen County Common Pleas Court. The children's mother, Marianne Merritt, was held on suspicion of Interference with custody, and held pending formal charges.
Noon Edition - 8/28/18
Law enforcement has turned its attention to the Daytona Beach, Florida area after the Lima Police Department issued an alert for four children who were taken by their mother and her boyfriend and were believed to be heading south.
The police say that 40-year-old Marianne Merritt did not have custody of her four kids and could be on their way to Florida with her boyfriend, 39-year-old Charles Perkins. Perkins, who is considered to be abusive to children has active warrants out and is considered armed and dangerous. The four children range from the age of 8 years old to 13 years old. The children were last seen in a home on North Main Street in Lima around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
"Detailed to them, to the officers, that the children were placed there at that home by children services. She believed the mother had come to the home or was at the home and taken the children from the home," said Sgt. Curtis Hile, Lima Police Department.
The police have issued a multi-state alert for anyone who has seen the children or the 2000 dark blue Chrysler Voyager with plate number FMQ3175 which they could be traveling in.
Lima police say they have been asked why an Amber Alert has not been issued. They tell us certain criteria must be met to have an Amber Alert issued and that criteria has not been reached.
If anyone has any information about the missing children you are urged to call the Lima Police Department at 419-227-4444 or Crimestoppers at 419-229-STOP.
