Abducted child located, mother arrested

The 10-year-old Kennett youth who was recently reported missing by her father has been located and is currently in the custody of authorities in Washington state. The mother, who is being charged with child abduction, has been arrested, according to authorities.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., on Wednesday, June 30, Kennett resident Curt Sawyer, grandfather of the abducted youth Miranda Cross, informed the Daily Dunklin Democrat that Miranda's father, Donny Cross, also of Kennett, had been contacted by authorities who said the child had been located and the mother, Violet Martindale, had been arrested. Sawyer said his family is appreciative of all of the agencies who cooperated together on the case to locate his granddaughter.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., on Wednesday, the Daily Dunklin Democrat was able to contact Cross, who confirmed that he received information from local police, filtered from Washington State police that his daughter is in the care and temporary custody of officials in Washington, and Martindale had been arrested.

This morning, Sawyer said Cross should have his daughter back in his custody at around 2 p.m.

"It will be probably [1:30 or 2 p.m.] before they get her," Sawyer said. "It takes 25-hours to get down there and they pulled out at 1 p.m., yesterday. We have spoken to [Miranda]. I think she is shook up over the deal. She knows her dad is on his way. We don't know much else until they get a hold of her."

On Monday, Dunklin County Prosecutor Stephen P. Sokoloff charged Martindale with child abduction, a class D felony, in regards to a parental kidnapping case involving her 10-year-old daughter.

Sokoloff said the penalty for the class D felony is up to four years in prison.

Cross, who was awarded primary custody of Miranda in recent court hearings, said on Monday that following the court hearings determining that he was to have full custody of his daughter, Miranda was given a visitation opportunity with Martindale.

Cross said that Martindale failed to comply with the visitation agreement and never returned their daughter to him. He additionally said that the mother's boyfriend had contacted him to bring to his attention that Martindale had allegedly taken his vehicle without his permission and fled with the child. Both men visited the Dunklin County Sheriff's office concerning both the missing car and child. Once authorities became involved, Cross said the situation became a criminal case, in which county prosecution and local police became involved in.