MIRANDA CROSS - 10 yo - Kennett (TennArkana border) MO

The Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney's office is in the process of
filing charges in connection with a local missing child case.
According to Prosecutor Stephen P. Sokoloff, the courts are charging
Violet Martindale of Kennett with child abduction, a class D felony, in
regards to a parental kidnapping case involving her 10-year-old daughter
Miranda Cross, also of Kennett.
Miranda was reported as missing by her father, Donny Cross, of Kennett,
who was awarded primary custody of Miranda in recent court hearings.
On Monday, Cross told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that following the
court hearings determining that he was to have full custody of his
daughter, Miranda was given a visitation opportunity with Martindale,
her mother.

Cross said that Martindale failed to comply with the visitation
agreement and never returned their daughter to him. He additionally said
that the mother's boyfriend had contacted him to bring to his attention
that Martindale had allegedly taken his vehicle without his permission
and fled with the child. Both men visited the Dunklin County Sheriff's
office concerning both the missing car and child. Once authorities
became involved, Cross said the situation became a criminal case, in
which county prosecution and local police became involved in.
"They are working to find her, "Cross said. "Hopefully, it won't be long
and I will have my little girl in my arms again."
Additional details regarding the case will be provided once they become
available. According to Cross, local police have made contact with the
child's mother, but have yet to confirm her Miranda's location. Cross
indicated that information given by Martindale to police was
questionable and misleading, but that he was confident that authorities
would locate Miranda soon.
Anyone with information that could help the investigation is encouraged
to contact local police at 573-888-4622.

A family in southern Missouri hopes police can find their abducted
daughter who could be somewhere in Eastern Washington.The child
was taken earlier this month by her non-custodial mother in Kennett,
Missouri.It has happened before and the last time the mother and
child ended up with the mom's family in Brewster, Washington.The
girl’s name is Mirandamarie Cross. She’s 10-years-old and is 4'11,
weighs between 70 and 80 pounds and has long hair. She wears purple
glasses and answers to the name Miranda.If you have seen Miranda
you’re asked to call the Kennett, Missouri Police Department at (573)
888-4622.

Police in four states, local authorities and
the FBI are searching for her. Since her disappearance her father
Donald Cross has been searching for his daughter, passing her photograph
around town and waiting for her safe return.

"I hope they call me shortly telling me they have her so I can go get her," said Donald Cross.

Cross said he reported Miranda missing after her mother Violet Martindale, her
non-custodial parent, took her away.

"The daughter was only supposed to stay with her
a short period of time and told us that she was gone that she had
fled," said Lt. Tim Trowbridge of the Kennett Police Department.

He said authorities didn't help right away in the search for Miranda.

"She lives with me and it states that in it. They still wouldn't do anything until the
warrant was issued," said Cross.

Lt. Trowbridge said there are multiple agencies across four states searching for the pair.

"When a child is involved it takes priority
for us. Our number one concern is the safety of the child," said Cross.

Martindale is believed to be on the way to Washington or Oregon where she has relatives.

"We tracked her down where she had car trouble in Superior, Montana. Her
car broke down and she had spent the night," said Trowbridge.

On Monday, police talked to Martindale on her cell phone.

"The manager stated that she was not there, that she didn't see her. We
also had law enforcement there working their way to her. She was not
there. She was lying to us," said Trowbridge.

Prosecuting Attorney Steven Sokoloff said kidnapping cases like this one are not uncommon.

"Better than 95% of the cases we have are a parent or at least a family member," said Sokoloff.

And in this case police believe Martindale is working hard to not be found.

"It was obvious when we were asking her where she was at, where she was staying she would
hesitate before she would say anything which makes you believe she was
trying to make up a story," said Trowbridge.

Cross said Martindale took their daughter once before. Miranda was gone from the time she was three years old
until she was seven.

"It took four years, two judges, two lawyers and two states to get her back," said Cross.

Police are searching for Martindale in Montana, Oregon, and Washington. They aren't sure if she is traveling alone
with her daughter or if they have another passenger. Police do believe
she is getting help from someone.
If you have any information in this case, you are urged to contact the Kennett Police Department at 573-888-4622.

The father of a Kennett girl, who was reportedly kidnapped by her mother
earlier this week, says his daughter has been found by authorities in Washington state.Donny Cross, father of 10-year-old Miranda Cross, said that his daughter was in the custody of authorities
in Washington and that her mother, Violet Martindale, had been arrested.
On Monday, Dunklin County Prosecuting
Attorney Stephen P. Sokoloff planned to charge Martindale with child
abduction after she allegedly refused to return her daughter after a
scheduled visitation and left the state.
Miranda was reported as missing by her father, who was awarded primary
custody of Miranda in recent court hearings.
On Monday, Cross told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that following the
court hearings determining that he was to have full custody of his
daughter, Miranda was given a visitation opportunity with Martindale,
her mother.
Cross said that Martindale failed to comply with the visitation
agreement and never returned their daughter to him. He additionally said
that the mother's boyfriend had contacted him to bring to his attention
that Martindale had allegedly taken his vehicle without his permission
and fled with the child. Both men visited the Dunklin County sheriff's
office concerning both the missing car and child. Once authorities
became involved, Cross said the situation became a criminal case, in
which county prosecution and local police became involved in.