A man and woman are charged with child kidnapping following a July 18 incident in Texas County, authorities said.
Kenneth R. Tarter, 67, of Eminence, was arrested Friday night in Shannon County on warrants charging him with felony child abduction, two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and misdemeanor assault. He was held on $250,000 bond in the Texas County Jail. An attorney filed a motion to reduce that amount Friday.
Helen Tarter, 60, of Kissee Mills, was also charged with felony child abduction, two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.
The case was handled by the Texas County Sheriff’s Department. An investigating deputy said a man reported a 5-year-old boy had been taken by grandparents following an incident on Date Drive in eastern Texas County. Shannon County authorities earlier said they wanted proof that the child belonged to the man before returning him.