Missing Bootheel girl found in Washington state after alleged abduction by mother

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Kennett girl who was reportedly kidnapped by her mother earlier this week has been found by authorities in Washington state, the girl's father told the Daily Dunklin Democrat newspaper.

Donny Cross, father of 10-year-old Miranda Cross, told the newspaper Wednesday afternoon that his daughter was in the custody of authorities in Washington and that her mother, Violet Martindale, had been arrested.

On Monday the newspaper reported that Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen P. Sokoloff planned to charge Martindale with child abduction after she allegedly refused to return her daughter after a scheduled visitation and left the state.

Miranda was reported as missing by her father, who was awarded primary custody of Miranda in recent court hearings.

On Monday, Cross told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that following the court hearings determining that he was to have full custody of his daughter, Miranda was given a visitation opportunity with Martindale, her mother.

Cross said that Martindale failed to comply with the visitation agreement and never returned their daughter to him. He additionally said that the mother's boyfriend had contacted him to bring to his attention that Martindale had allegedly taken his vehicle without his permission and fled with the child. Both men visited the Dunklin County sheriff's office concerning both the missing car and child. Once authorities became involved, Cross said the situation became a criminal case, in which county prosecution and local police became involved in.