A Springfield man is charged with taking his daughter Tuesday from a residence north of Houston.
Preston D. Kamler, 38, is charged with interference with custody, a felony, after he allegedly ran out of the woods wearing camouflage and took his 4-year-old daughter. The parents share joint custody, authorities said.
Deputies were called after another child reported the abduction to the mother. The juvenile told authorities that the man said, “Don’t tell your mom, she stole her from me.”
Later, Kamler called 911 and said he had taken the girl, but declined to talk to deputies. The focus of the investigation shifted to the Springfield area, where officers traveled to a residence, but found only a vehicle there. More information led the Missouri State Highway Patrol to find another vehicle at Kamler’s business. An abandoned cellphone and a stuffed animal were located in the vehicle.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol located the child in good health, and Kamler was arrested at about 8:50 p.m. He was taken to the Greene County Jail.
Bond was set at $50,000 cash only in Texas County.
A separate investigation is underway in Greene County, according to a court document.
