Wyoming Troopers Rescue Five Missing Children in Two Incidents
The Wyoming Highway Patrol says its troopers rescued five missing children in two separate incidents near Dubois in the past week.
Patrol Sgt. Kyle McKay said in a statement that the first incident, which occurred April 27, began when troopers were dispatched to a crash that resulted in a fuel tanker truck catching fire on U.S. 26. The highway was closed for safety reasons.
As the crash investigation wrapped up, troopers were notified about a driver wanted by Idaho law enforcement for the assault and abduction of two children. Authorities "pinged" the driver's cell phone in order to determine his location.
Park rangers found the driver's vehicle at the road-closed gate on U.S. 26. Troopers arrived, found the two children inside the vehicle and arrested the driver. The children were released to their mother.
Then, on Sunday, troopers received a report about a vehicle with three missing children leaving a gas station off of Interstate 80.
Troopers found the overdue rental vehicle and questioned the driver, who reportedly gave conflicting information about his travel plans and provided a false name for one of the children in the vehicle.
Troopers were able to identify one of the children as a missing child out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Troopers contacted the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation to assist with the case regarding the other two children.
Two adults in the vehicle were arrested after authorities allegedly found a spoon with methamphetamine residue, marijuana, digital scales, a syringe, a blow torch and a loaded Hi-Point pistol. The adults were charged with felony child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and no child safety seat.