FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
October 19, 2007 Deputy Matt Hershey, Public Information Officer
(602) 920-4841
 

U.S. Marshals Arrest Woman Sought in Parental Abduction

 
Phoenix, AZ – An Orlando woman sought for the parental abduction of her three year old child was arrested this afternoon by the U.S. Marshals Phoenix HIDTA Task Force at her apartment at 23rd Avenue and Butler in Phoenix.

Stephanie Simon, 36, was wanted on a felony warrant by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando, FL for custodial interference. In September 2006 Simon had residential custody of her child and the biological father had court ordered visitation rights. Simon then fled Florida without notice and on September 29, 2006 the court amended its order granting the child’s father sole temporary and residential custody of the child. After the abduction Investigators solicited the assistance of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as well as the United States Marshals Service.

Early this morning Deputy U.S. Marshals and Task Force Officers established surveillance on an apartment believed to be occupied by Simon and her child, and in the early afternoon Officers observed them exit the apartment at which time Simon was arrested without incident. Simon was booked into the Maricopa County Jail awaiting extradition back to Florida and the Child was placed in protective custody.

United States Marshal David Gonzales praised the work of Deputies and law enforcement officers adding, “The United States Marshals Service has a special relationship with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and we along with our state and local partners will continue to use every available resource to assist them in locating children who are the true victims of these crimes.”

The HIDTA Task Force agencies include: United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Mesa Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Maricopa County Probation Office, Phoenix Police Department, Chandler Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service.

For further information about the U.S. Marshals: www.usmarshals.gov/