Relatives accused in kidnapping waive extradition

Three family members of a 5-year-old boy taken from a St. Louis hospital where he is on a heart transplant list are headed back to Missouri to face charges.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported the father, aunt and grandmother of the boy waived extradition Thursday in a Chicago court. Authorities say the trio took Porter Stone from St. Louis Children’s Hospital on Tuesday, soon after he was discharged following evaluation for a transplant. Police found them early Wednesday in a motel room near Chicago.

Father Jeffrey Stone, aunt Heather Minton and grandmother Rhonda Matthews appeared before Cook County Judge James Brown. They face kidnapping and child endangerment charges. Brown ordered all three held without bond until Missouri authorities take them into custody.