GIPD says kids rescued after vehicle stolen in subzero temps

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Grand Island police say three kids were found after a theft of a vehicle in subzero temperatures.

Around 3:00 a.m. on January 29th, a Grand Island resident reported his 2012 Chevy Traverse stolen from the 1400 Block of North Wheeler. His three children -- ages 5, 1, and 7 months -- were in the vehicle at the time of the theft.

The Grand Island Police Department, not yet aware of the children’s presence, tried to stop the vehicle but were unsuccessful and stopped the pursuit.

The investigation then led officers to think the vehicle was in Buffalo County.

The vehicle was later found in rural Buffalo County and two suspects, a 17-year-old Hastings male and 18-year-old Tate Wolfe of Kearney, were taken into custody by the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department and Nebraska State Patrol.

The missing children were not located in the stolen vehicle.

Police say at 4:52 am, Grand Island Police Officers, while conducting a canvas search, found a vehicle stolen out of Kearney, and located the 5 and 1 year old kidnapping victims in that vehicle, believed to have been placed there by the suspects. However, the infant was not located at that time.

A county-wide alert was issued to help find the infant and at 5:25 a.m., a rural Hall County resident located the infant abandoned on the porch of a farm house.

According to the National Weather Service, the wind chill was -20 at the time.

All three children were transported for medical attention for suspected hypothermia and frostbite.

Both suspects are in custody and housed in the Hall County Jail on suspicion of 3 counts of Kidnapping, 3 counts of Intentional Childs Abuse resulting in injury, Possession of Stolen Property, and Flight to Avoid Arrest.

Authorities say there may be additional charges in cooperating jurisdictions.