Abducted children returning to Van Wert

VW independent/VWPD information

Two children allegedly abducted by their father during a custody dispute are being returned to Van Wert from Arizona.

On March 15, Donald E. Carter, 40, of Lima, failed to return his children, ages 12 and 9, to their mother, Tiffany Strick of Van Wert.

Strick filed a report with the Van Wert Police Department the next day alleging Carter took the children and left Ohio with them. An investigation determined that Carter had fled Ohio and was en route to Arizona with the children.

A nationwide warrant was issued for Carter on a charge of felony interference with child custody. VWPD detectives worked the investigation with the Lima office of the FBI, and the Phoenix and the Tempe, Arizona, FBI offices.

At 1 a.m. Wednesday, the Phoenix, Arizona, FBI office contacted the VWPD to say Carter was in custody, the children were located and had been turned over to the Arizona Department of Job and Family Services prior to them being picked up by their mother.