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RCMP say Krista Morrison and Daniel Ludwig, both 35, were arrested in West Kelowna Sept. 17 after the alleged abduction of a six-year-old boy from Valhalla Centre July 7, during a custody dispute. Both were charged with contravening a custody order and saw their first court date Sept. 18 in BC before they were sent back to Alberta. (RCMP photos)Chris Zwick, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter/The Canadian Press
Two young brothers who were the subjects of an Amber Alert in July were found safely in BC Sept. 17 after a 10-week investigation.
The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit announced on Sept. 18 that the boys, 4 and 6, were found in West Kelowna, accompanied by their mother Krista Morrison and Daniel Ludwig, the father of the youngest. They were arrested on outstanding warrants and taken into custody without incident.
“From the outset, our primary focus was (the children’s) safety and well-being. After approximately two-and-a-half months of sustained investigative efforts, we are grateful to report that both children have been found safe as a result of the investigation,” said Inspector Breanne Brown, Acting Officer in Charge of the Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch.
She credited the co-operation of several departments and detachments including RCMP Southeast BC District Emergency Response Team, RCMP Federal Policing, RCMP Air Services, and investigative services from both West Kelowna and Kelowna RCMP detachments.
“This outcome reflects not only the strength and collaboration across the RCMP, but also the dedication of approximately 70 investigators, in addition to civilian support staff in Alberta, who spent countless hours pursuing leads, coordinating resources, and conducting searches across multiple jurisdictions across Canada,” said Brown. “This was an exhaustive and a complex investigation, and the determination to locate these children safely never diminished.”
Beaverlodge RCMP notified the public of the Amber Alert on July 9, saying the eldest had been “taken” by his mother from Valhalla Centre. The Amber Alert was cancelled July 10 as there was “no reasonable expectation the public, in Alberta, will be able to action the instructions in the alert,” said the media release.
There are four criteria that must all be met for an Amber Alert to be activated — a child or adult with a proven mental or physical disability has been abducted; the child or adult is in danger of serious harm or death; there is enough descriptive information on the abducted, the abductee, or the mode of transportation involved; and there is a reasonable expectation the abductee could be returned, or the abductor apprehended.
While the initial alert was for only the eldest child, S/Sgt. Derrick Gladdish of the Major Crimes Unit with the Serious Crimes Branch, said by the time they were ready to add the youngest child to the alert, the criteria were no longer met.
Gladdish added the children seemed healthy and happy when the parents were taken into custody.
“I won’t get into specific locations or where that was exactly, but they were in good health. My investigators did send me a picture, and they seemed to be happy young children. They did not seem to be in any sort of distress at the time that they were apprehended,” he said.
Brown added the file is still under investigation and will be before the courts where more details will be heard.
Morrison and Ludwig, both 35, are each charged with contravening a custody order.
Their bail hearing took place in a Kelowna court Sept. 18, with the pair appearing via video link from jail. The judge ordered a six-day remand period to allow them to be transferred back to Alberta where they face criminal charges, according to Kelowna-based online news site, Castanet.
At the time of the announcement the children were in the custody of Ministry of Children’s and Family Services in British Columbia, and arrangements were being made to turn them over to Children and Family Services in Alberta.