Stoddard County man arrested in New Orleans returned to Southeast Missouri

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Malden, Mo., man who was wanted in Stoddard County and was recently arrested in New Orleans has now been relocated to the Stoddard County Jail.

Chris Rauscher, 38, is facing charges from a July incident.

Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner said Rauscher arrived at the jail late Saturday night by means of a private prisoner transit company.

Rauscher was questioned in July after being implicated in a rural business break-in. After being questioned initially, further evidence pointed to his involvement in the crime, and Rauscher was asked to report back to local police on July 16 for more questioning. He failed to report for that appointment and failed to report to his job at a local dealership following the lunch period on that date.

Police were unable to locate Rauscher, and it was believed he left the area in the 2010 Hyundai Sonata that had been granted him for company use from the dealership.

A warrant was issued for Rauscher's arrest on July 20, charging the Dexter, Mo., native with stealing. Charges are also pending against him in Cape Girardeau County, where he is alleged to have wrecked a vehicle from a dealership and allegedly reported it as stolen. Those charges include property damage, filing a false report and leaving the scene of an accident. He is also currently on probation in Dunklin County for stealing.

Rauscher's wife and daughter were missing, as well, and were found in New Orleans.

According to Lt. Trevor Pulley of the Dexter police, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was involved in the Rauscher case. It was a lead from that organization, Pulley confirmed, that led authorities to New Orleans, where Rauscher was reportedly working in a cafe.

He appeared for arraignment before Judge Joe Z. Satterfield on Thursday.