Two North Texas kids abducted by mother found safe in Oklahoma; mom arrested, police say
Two young children who police say were abducted from North Texas by their biological mother on Thursday were found safe in Oklahoma on Friday morning, and the mother was arrested.
Albina Rudenko was taken into custody without incident about 8:30 a.m. in Wagoner, Oklahoma, Lewisville police said in a news release. A driver had noticed the suspect’s car broken down in a parking lot and called officers for a welfare check.
Rudenko faces charges of two counts of interference with child custody, which is state jail felony, punishable by 180 days to two years if convicted.
Rudenko had her parental rights terminated earlier this year in a court order. Police said she took her daughter and son, 8-year-old Chantelle Gwivaha and 6-year-old Jason Gwivaha, off a school bus in Lewisville on Thursday afternoon and left the state.
Lewisville police said they are working with Texas Child Protective Services to bring the children back to Lewisville to be reunited with their father as soon as possible. Rudenko will be arraigned in Wagoner County before she can be returned to Texas.
An Amber Alert was initially issued for Chantelle and Jason, but police said later said they were investigating the abduction as a critical missing persons case.
This story was originally published September 1, 2023 at 9:04 AM.
