A heartening update has emerged in the case of three Indiana children who went missing with their parents on July 4. The good news is that they have been found unharmed in Texas.
On July 4, the children were taken from their grandfather at Famous Dave’s restaurant in Indianapolis by their parents, Willie Terrell (50) and Jessika Officer-Terrell (31), who do not have legal custody of them.
Both Terrell and Officer-Terrell are facing charges of three felony counts for breaching a court order pertaining to child custody. They were arrested and placed in custody on Tuesday at the Frio County Jail in Texas.
Police reports indicate that the parents had previously neglected and malnourished their children, who are aged four, three, and one and require daily medication.
The Department of Family Services in Indiana entrusted the custody of the children to their grandfather, James Officer. He had taken them to a restaurant to meet their parents with the approval of their case manager from LaPorte County.
Upon James Officer’s bathroom break, Terrell and Jessika Officer departed in a white minivan with the children.
The police issued an alert regarding the children’s safety since their parents did not have custody. Moreover, the children had medical conditions that required prescribed medication; failure to receive adequate treatment could prove fatal.
Terrell was located in Columbus, Texas on Monday thanks to the help of cell phone data, as per police reports.
As per the probable cause affidavit, Terrell’s therapist had informed her that the kids were in good health and that the family had plans of visiting Mexico.
During his therapy session, Terrell expressed his desire for the FBI to investigate the recurring issue of his children being taken away from him.
Local authorities have reported that the parents were taken into custody on Tuesday evening at the Rio Frio hotel in Pearsall, Texas, following a short standoff. The police made the arrest.
As a veteran Chicago journalist with experience in print, television and online platforms, John Dodge has been an integral part of the CBS Chicago team since 2007. Currently holding the position of Director of Digital Content, John brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise, making him a valuable asset to the team.
