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Father Reunites With Missing Children After Mother Arrested
A Southern Colorado father is happy to be reunited with his children after his three girls went missing for nearly 14 hours.
A KKTV 11 News crew was on scene when the kids walked into their children's father's house just before noon Tuesday.
Police spent Monday night and Tuesday morning searching for the children, who they say were taken without permission by their mother, who does not have custody.
Jim Read left the children with their mother Michelle Ruehlen on Monday night. He went to the store for a few hours to buy presents for his twin daughters’ birthday. When he returned to his Pueblo home on Kenwood Drive they were all gone and suitcases were missing.
He called police, who spent 14 hours looking for the children. They recovered the gold GMC Suburban Ruehlen had reportedly stolen on the south side of town. After searching the area there was no sign of Ruehlen or the children.
11 News was there the moment Ruehlen returned home with the children, around 12:00 p.m. A neighbor across the street witnessed the return and immediately called 911.
“I was anxious. I had to do something about it, so that’s what I did. The first thing that came through my mind is that I’m thankful the kids are fine,” said neighbor Ken Siemens. He adds, “The neighborhood is lively with them. So when I heard they were missing, my heart went out to them.”
Police arrived in minutes and took Ruehlen away in handcuffs. The children were unharmed. Police worried about the safety of the children because they say Ruehlen has a history of substance abuse and mental issues. Police say Ruehlen appeared to be intoxicated when they arrested her.
Jim Read was overjoyed to have his kids home safe and sound. The children yelled “daddy” as he walked through the door of their house.
“I was so happy. After all the things I thought all night and you never know. Its just a relief. It didn’t look like it was coming to an end soon and it did,” said Jim Read. He adds, “I was just fearful. I didn’t know where they were and they were not supposed to be gone. So I just did what I had to in order to find them and make sure they got home safe.”
One of the children is legally deaf. Her hearing aids were left at the home.
The three sisters were returned home in time to celebrate the twins’ birthday Tuesday. Police told 11 News Ruehlen’s sister said Ruehlen took the kids because she wanted to spend time with the girls on their birthday.
Ruehlen told police she left the Suburban and got a ride to a local motel where she stayed the night with the kids and another man. When police questioned her on scene, she said she had no idea she did anything wrong. She told them she normally babysits the kids, and had no idea police were looking for her.
Ruehlen has been in and out of the children’s lives for years. Read had full custody of the children. She had been temporarily staying with Read for the last few months, but they were no longer together.
Read tells 11 News he was trying to get her to leave. He plans on getting a protection order, saying his top priority is his children’s safety.
Ruehlen has been booked into the Pueblo County Jail. She faces second degree kidnapping charges, aggravated motor vehicle theft, and violation of a custody order.
A Southern Colorado father is happy to be reunited with his children after his three girls went missing for nearly 14 hours.
A KKTV 11 News crew was on scene when the kids walked into their children's father's house just before noon Tuesday.
Police spent Monday night and Tuesday morning searching for the children, who they say were taken without permission by their mother, who does not have custody.
Jim Read left the children with their mother Michelle Ruehlen on Monday night. He went to the store for a few hours to buy presents for his twin daughters’ birthday. When he returned to his Pueblo home on Kenwood Drive they were all gone and suitcases were missing.
He called police, who spent 14 hours looking for the children. They recovered the gold GMC Suburban Ruehlen had reportedly stolen on the south side of town. After searching the area there was no sign of Ruehlen or the children.
11 News was there the moment Ruehlen returned home with the children, around 12:00 p.m. A neighbor across the street witnessed the return and immediately called 911.
“I was anxious. I had to do something about it, so that’s what I did. The first thing that came through my mind is that I’m thankful the kids are fine,” said neighbor Ken Siemens. He adds, “The neighborhood is lively with them. So when I heard they were missing, my heart went out to them.”
Police arrived in minutes and took Ruehlen away in handcuffs. The children were unharmed. Police worried about the safety of the children because they say Ruehlen has a history of substance abuse and mental issues. Police say Ruehlen appeared to be intoxicated when they arrested her.
Jim Read was overjoyed to have his kids home safe and sound. The children yelled “daddy” as he walked through the door of their house.
“I was so happy. After all the things I thought all night and you never know. Its just a relief. It didn’t look like it was coming to an end soon and it did,” said Jim Read. He adds, “I was just fearful. I didn’t know where they were and they were not supposed to be gone. So I just did what I had to in order to find them and make sure they got home safe.”
One of the children is legally deaf. Her hearing aids were left at the home.
The three sisters were returned home in time to celebrate the twins’ birthday Tuesday. Police told 11 News Ruehlen’s sister said Ruehlen took the kids because she wanted to spend time with the girls on their birthday.
Ruehlen told police she left the Suburban and got a ride to a local motel where she stayed the night with the kids and another man. When police questioned her on scene, she said she had no idea she did anything wrong. She told them she normally babysits the kids, and had no idea police were looking for her.
Ruehlen has been in and out of the children’s lives for years. Read had full custody of the children. She had been temporarily staying with Read for the last few months, but they were no longer together.
Read tells 11 News he was trying to get her to leave. He plans on getting a protection order, saying his top priority is his children’s safety.
Ruehlen has been booked into the Pueblo County Jail. She faces second degree kidnapping charges, aggravated motor vehicle theft, and violation of a custody order.