Mom arrested for kidnapping 2 children

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Acting on information from Tennessee authorities, two young children allegedly kidnapped by their non-custodial mother were found early Tuesday morning at a South Poplar Bluff home and are back with their grandmother.

About 8 p.m. Monday night, Poplar Bluff Police received a request for assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation about a parental kidnapping, said Capt. Dave Sutton.

The mother, identified as Tammy Sheree Barbee, 41, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, allegedly took her children, ages 3 and 5, during a supervised visit, Sutton said.

"At the time we got the request, they had been pinging (Barbee's cell) phone for the (prior) 24 hours," Sutton said. "The pings all came back" in the South Poplar Bluff area.

Tennessee authorities, Sutton said, were unable to provide a vehicle description.

"Officers saturated the neighborhood, and officer Shonna Parrent remembered having dealings with a residence in the 1800 block of Fair Street who had ties to Tennessee," Sutton said.

"She and officer Joey Woodruff made contact with that person. They asked him if the mother and children were there."

The man, Sutton said, confirmed they were inside and invited in the officers.

Barbee was arrested at 2:07 a.m. Tuesday on a Lauderdale County, Tennessee, warrant for two counts of child abduction (custodial interference).

Sutton said the children were recovered without incident and released to their grandmother, who is their guardian.

Barbee was booked at the Butler County jail, where she continues to be held without bond.