3 Children Kidnapped In Stolen Car; Infant Abandoned On Porch Of Farm House

Three children, aged 5 and below, were kidnapped during a carjacking and later found in different locations in Nebraska.

Two teenagers, an 18-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy, were identified as suspects and arrested in connection with the incident.

The search for the three children began after a man reported his 2012 Chevrolet Traverse stolen at around 3 a.m. Sunday, the Grand Island Police said. The man also told officials that his 5-year-old, 1-year-old and 7-month-old children were inside the car at the time of the theft, according to AP News.

Police located the stolen vehicle shortly after and tried to get the suspects to pull over. However, the suspects managed to escape after an unsuccessful pursuit.

Investigators suspected that the vehicle was in Buffalo County and eventually located the two suspects, identified as 18-year-old Tate Wolfe of Kearney and a 17-year-old teen from Hastings, inside the stolen 2012 Chevrolet Traverse. However, the three missing children were not inside the vehicle at the time.

The Buffalo County Sheriff's Department and Nebraska State Patrol took the two suspects into custody, according to 1011 News.

The search for the children eventually led police officers to find another vehicle that was also reported stolen in Kearney. The 5-year-old and 1-year-old children were found inside the car around 5 a.m., the Grand Island Police Department said.

Investigators believe the suspects placed the two children in the second stolen vehicle and left. When investigators could not find the infant, a county-wide alert was issued to locate the missing baby.

A rural Hall County resident soon contacted law enforcement officials about finding an abandoned infant. The information led officials to find the missing 7-month-old baby, who was left alone on the porch of a farm house, at around 5:25 a.m.

The three kidnapped children were taken to the hospital and received medical attention for suspected hypothermia and frostbite.

The two suspects are being held at the Hall County Jail on suspicion of several charges that include three counts of kidnapping, three counts of intentional child abuse resulting in injury, possession of stolen property, and flight to avoid arrest.

The suspects could also face additional charges in cooperating jurisdictions, officials said.