FORT WORTH -- Acting on tips from East Texas authorities, Fort Worth police on Friday arrested a woman who is suspected of kidnapping two of her young grandchildren in Houston County.
Vonnie Miller, 48, of Kennard was arrested about 3 p.m. at a house in the 900 block of East Richmond Avenue, about three miles south of downtown Fort Worth.The grandchildren, a 1-year-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, were safe, said Chief Deputy G.P. Shearer of the Houston County sheriff's department. A 6-year-old boy, believed to also be her grandchild, but a half-brother of other two children, was also found safe, Shearer said.Investigators learned that Miller might have a handgun, he said."That, and statements she made previously, alarmed us," Shearer said. "Fort Worth police located the vehicle and located the grandmother and the kids."They made it a great day."The Amber Alert was issued about 3 p.m. Thursday when Houston County deputies learned that Miller had left Kennard with the children, Shearer said.Kennard is about 160 miles southeast of Fort Worth in the Davy Crockett National Forest in deep East Texas .She has been in a custody dispute with the children's father, Lorenzo Simpson, since the death in December of the children's mother, Vonnie Miller's daughter.The children had stayed with Miller during the Christmas holidays, and she refused to give them up when the father came to get them, Shearer saidSimpson began legal actions to assert his custody rights. It took several weeks, but as the process was coming to a head, Miller fled with the children in a gray 2005 Honda Accord, Shearer said.The Amber Alert was issued.Meanwhile, sheriff's deputies and Texas Rangers learned Miller has family and friends in Fort Worth, Shearer said.Their names and addresses were sent to Fort Worth police, including the house on East Richmond, Shearer said. The neighborhood is a few blocks southeast of the intersection of East Allen Avenue and Interstate 35W.Police set up a perimeter around the house and began a search. Miller was found hiding inside, said Officer Sharron Neal, a police spokeswoman. She was taken into custody without incident.Investigators questioned severa other people "who may have been responsible for assisting the suspect with evading capture," Neal said.Simpson was headed to Fort Worth Friday afternoon to get his children.The situation involving the 6-year-old was not clear. He is also a child of Miller's late daughter, Miller has been caring for him, and authorities don't know where his father is, Shearer said.Bill Miller, 817-390-7684Twitter: @Bill_MillerSTHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
