SCITUATE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island State Police say two children reported missing in 1985 have been located in the Houston area and their non-custodial mother has been charged with snatching them.
Police said Tuesday an anonymous tip two days before Christmas led them to Kimberly and Kelly Yates, and their 69-year-old mother, Elaine.
They said the mother had been living in Houston under the name Leina Waldberg. She was arrested without incident Monday, and faces arraignment Wednesday in Rhode Island on a fugitive charge. She faces two counts of child snatching.
Investigators said Elaine Yates was looking to divorce her husband, Russel, when she abducted the two girls. Russel Yates filed a missing persons report with police when his wife took the children. Three months later, a court order granted him custody of the missing girls. A warrant was later issued for his wife’s arrest.
Kelly was 10-months old when she went missing. Her sister was 3. Kelly, now 32, and Kimberly, now 35, were not living with their mother but were still in the Houston area.
Police say their father has been informed and is “relieved.” It’s up to his daughters whether to contact him.
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