CLEARFIELD – Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. has announced the capture of a child kidnapping suspect in Utah and the successful recovery of the missing child.
Shaw identified the suspect as Laura D. Kilmer, 39, of Juniata Street, DuBois. In January 2011, the District Attorney’s Office received a report about an alleged child abduction from a DuBois resident.
Shaw stated that he requested the Pennsylvania State Police to investigate the report and to take appropriate action to locate the child.
Shaw also stated that he requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service to help locate Kilmer. This, he said, was out of concern that Kilmer may have removed the child from the state of Pennsylvania.
On Feb. 2, 2011, Tpr. Carol Ponce of the Pennsylvania State Police, DuBois barracks, filed a criminal complaint against Kilmer. She charged Kilmer with kidnapping, F1, and interference with custody of children, F3. Ponce also obtained a warrant for Kilmer’s arrest.
The affidavit of probable cause alleges that Kilmer took her 4-year-old daughter from her residence. She then fled to unknown whereabouts without the authorization or knowledge of the child’s father.
On Jan. 4, 2011, the father was awarded full custody of the child by a court order issued in Clarion County.
Upon further investigation, it was found that Kilmer had allegedly made several statements that she would shoot and kill the child. She allegedly stated she would do it with a handgun she had in her possession if she was about to be captured by authorities.
On Feb. 4, 2011, the U.S. Marshals Service for the Western District of Pennsylvania opened a fugitive investigation in order to locate Kilmer and the missing child. The service forwarded leads to five U.S. Marshals districts in four states, including one for the District of Utah.
The Pennsylvania State Police and U.S. Marshals initially pursued leads in New Jersey and Florida. They also worked with the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office to pinpoint Kilmer’s location based upon where she made calls on her cell phone and where she used her credit card.
On Feb. 25, 2011, it was learned that the Garfield County, Utah Sheriff’s Department had run the license plate of Kilmer’s vehicle in the National Crime Information Center’s database when the vehicle had run out of gas.
In speaking with the sheriff, U.S. Marshals learned that Kilmer had indicated she was traveling north to visit relatives. U.S. Marshals then found a location of Kilmer’s sister just north of Garfield County. U.S. Marshals were able to locate Kilmer’s vehicle in the parking lot of her sister’s apartment complex.
On Feb. 27, 2011, U.S. Marshals were alerted that the vehicle was moving. Due to the threat on the child’s life, the U.S. Marshals developed the plan of waiting for Kilmer to stop and get gas before attempting an arrest.
When Kilmer stopped at a convenience store in West Valley City, Utah and entered without the child, she was arrested. The child was recovered safely at the time of the arrest. A loaded handgun was allegedly recovered from Kilmer’s vehicle at the time of her arrest.
Kilmer is currently housed in the Salt Lake County Jail pending extradition to Clearfield County to face the charges against her. The child has been taken into protective custody by authorities in Utah and is in the process of being returned to her father.
Shaw thanked the Pennsylvania State Police and U.S. Marshals Service for their hard work and assistance with this case. Shaw stated that he was pleased with the diligent efforts used in this case to locate the missing child and to guarantee the child’s safety.
Anyone with knowledge of fugitive’s location is asked to call Clearfield County Crimestoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crimestoppers are confidential.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the Clearfield County District Attorney Web site at www.ClearfieldDA.org and selecting “Report A Crime.”