Three South Dakota residents were taken into custody in Wisconsin on Sunday, following the alleged kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl from Indiana. The individuals, identified as Zachary Delozier, 27, Sara Gaudino, 23, and Isaiah Schryvers, 24, are now facing charges of kidnapping a minor. The trio was apprehended on warrants issued by the Wells County Sheriff’s Office in northeastern Indiana.
Late Saturday, Wells County issued a “silver alert” for the missing girl, last seen in the small town of Zanesville, southwest of Fort Wayne. A local search party was quickly assembled, with multiple agencies joining forces and employing drones and helicopters to aid in the search. However, after seven hours of fruitless searching, it was concluded that the girl was no longer in Zanesville, and the search was called off.
The investigation took a turn when authorities were tipped off about a sighting of the suspect vehicle, a white Dodge Caravan, at a gas station in Barneveld, Wisconsin. Responding to the tip, law enforcement initiated a traffic stop in nearby Dodgeville along U.S. Highway 151. The child was safely extracted from the vehicle.
The motive behind the alleged abduction remains a mystery, as does the intended destination of the suspects. The relationship between the alleged kidnappers and the victim is also unclear, as their last names do not match.
Iowa County Sheriff Michael Peterson expressed his gratitude to the various law enforcement agencies involved in the case. He praised their swift action and professionalism, which he said were instrumental in the successful resolution of the case. Further details about the incident will be released as the investigation progresses.
The child’s safety has been secured, and she is expected to be reunited with her family soon.