Pair indicted of kidnapping western Indiana boy

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — A federal grand jury has indicted a man and woman from western Indiana on charges they kidnapped a 4-year-old boy from his mother this summer.

Authorities say the pair took the boy from his home in Terre Haute on July 26 under the pretense of taking him to a birthday party for another child. The indictments charge that 24-year-old Nicholas Runyon and 28-year-old April Bell took the boy into Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Kentucky, where they were caught two days later with the unharmed child.

The Tribune-Star reports Vigo County prosecutor Terry Modesitt says federal charges were sought because the abduction isn’t considered kidnapping under state law since no ransom was sought.

Runyon and Bell have been jailed since their arrest. Messages seeking comment were left for their attorneys.