Three Springfield children who have been missing since March are on their way back to Missouri.
The U.S. Marshals Service announced the recovery of Ryder Green, 10, Resean Green, 9, and Ramello Green, 8. Marshals arrested their mother, Brittany Barnes, 31, and her wife Ceairah Beverly, 30, in Tucson, Arizona, May 13.
Barnes, who does not hold legal custody of the three children, allegedly took them from their Springfield home on March 23. On April 8, Greene County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Barnes and Beverly, and announced that they would be charged with kidnapping and custodial interference.
About a month passed before Springfield investigators asked the U.S. Marshals Service for help finding Barnes, Beverly and the children in or around Tucson.
“Deputy Marshals in Arizona collaborated with members of Missouri’s U.S. Marshals Service Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force, conducting an in-depth investigation into the location of all five individuals,” a statement U.S. Marshals issued May 13 reads. “The investigation revealed Barnes and Beverly, along with the children, were likely staying at an unknown hotel in Tucson.”
The U.S. Marshals identified a black Infiniti SUV linked to the couple at a hotel at Casino Del Sol. They worked with the tribal Pascua Yaqui Police Department to confirm that Barnes, Beverly and the children were staying at the hotel. On May 13, the five people got into the black SUV and left the hotel. Law enforcement agents took them into custody shortly after.
Barnes and Beverly were taken to the Pima County, Arizona jail and will reportedly be brought to Missouri to face criminal charges. The three children were turned over to the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, and will also be brought back to Missouri.
U.S. Marshals say they are pleased that the Springfield case ended with the three children being found safe and not physically harmed.
“It is estimated that there are approximately 400,000 missing children in the United States,” U.S. Marshal David Gonzales said. “Many missing children are never reported to authorities. I am pleased that three of these vulnerable children were recovered by the U.S. Marshals Service and can now obtain the support and healing they deserve.”
