WOODLAND PARK, Colo.—Authorities in Colorado say they’ve located three teens whose mother allegedly violated a court order in a custody battle by taking them from Florida in 1997.
Teller County, Colo., sheriff’s Deputy Mikel Baker said Wednesday authorities found the teens after a 64-year-old woman living with them slipped a bank employee a note saying she was being abused by her son.
Deputies went to the home and arrested the son, 37-year-old Jason Vercillo, on suspicion of second-degree assault of an at-risk adult and false imprisonment.
They arrested 42-year-old Tonya Vercillo, Jason Vercillo’s wife and the mother of the three teens, on suspicion of failure to appear in court.
Florida authorities say Tonya Vercillo and the children’s father, Denny Baumgardner, had a shared custody agreement. They said she missed a hearing in the custody case and took the children out of state.
No phone listing could be found for the Vercillos. Authorities said both were released on bond.
Deputies placed two of the teens, a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl, in protective custody and said they will be reunited with their father. Teller County authorities said they didn’t know where in Florida he lives.
The Associated Press is not identifying the teens or the 64-year-old woman by name because the teens are juveniles and the woman is a victim of alleged abuse.
The third teen, 19-year-old Bjorn Baumgardner, was not taken into custody because he is an adult.
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Information from: The Gazette,
