AZ troopers rescue children kidnapped from Idaho

Arizona troopers rescued three children Wednesday after their father had allegedly kidnapped them in Idaho. Authorities said the suspect had threatened his wife about taking their children to Mexico.

Nampa Police Department informed Arizona Department of Public Safety that the kidnapper and his children were in Arizona. Troopers were able to track the suspect vehicle that was heading northbound along U.S. 93 at milepost 142, near Wikieup, Ariz. At 4:30 p.m., DPS troopers conducted a traffic stop and 25-year-old Jose Hernandez, of Nampa, ID., was taken into custody. DPS officials said three children, ages 18-months, three and five-years-old were also in the pickup truck, along with an 18-year-old woman.

The children were evaluated and deemed unharmed at a Kingman hospital. They were turned over to the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

AZDPS said the 18-year-old woman was not considered a suspect and was released.

Hernandez, along with the investigation, were both turned over to AZDPS detectives. He was booked into the Mohave County Jail on a no-bond felony warrant out of Nampa, ID.

“We can’t thank Arizona troopers enough. Because of their assistance, the children were found safe and this case has a positive ending,” said Sergeant Brian Jones of the Nampa Police Department.