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Harrisburg, PA – On Monday evening, September 26, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS)
located eight children who were kidnapped from a foster care facility in Queens,
New York one week earlier. The children, ranging in age from 11-months old to
11-years old, were taken during a supervised visit with their biological
parents. The one daughter and seven sons had originally been placed in foster
care following allegations of abuse.
The New York City Police Department (NYPD) investigated the child abductions at
the Forestdale Child Agency in Forest Hills, Queens. Arrest warrants were
obtained against the biological parents.
On September 26, the U.S. Marshals Service was contacted directly by the NYPD
regarding this case. An investigative lead was developed in Harrisburg.
At approximately 9:30PM, U.S. Marshals located a vehicle which closely matched
the description of the vehicle used in the abduction. A short time later, U.S.
Marshals approached the vehicle in the vicinity of 17th and Berryhill Streets in
Harrisburg. A team of Marshals and NYC PD Officers approached the vehicle and
found all eight children and both fugitives inside. The children were found to
be in good condition. Both parents were arrested. It appeared as though everyone
intended to spend the night in the vehicle.
Shanel Nadal, 28, and Nephra Payne, 34, did not resist arrest. They were turned
over to local authorities for processing and booking. The children were turned
over to the Dauphin County Children and Youth Services, pending coordination
with their New York counterparts.
U.S. Marshals were assisted by NYPD detectives and patrol officers from the
Harrisburg Bureau of Police.
Acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The U.S. Marshals Service committed
all its efforts to finding these innocent young children. Their safe recovery is
a testament to the cooperative efforts of U.S. Marshals and their law
enforcement counterparts.”
Additional information about the U.S.
Marshals Service can be found at
http://www.usmarshals.gov.
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