U.S. Marshals Safely Recover 8 Children Abducted by Their Biological Parents from Foster Care in New York City

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Parents arrested in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, PA – On Monday evening, September 26, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) located eight children who were kidnapped from a foster care facility in Queens, New York one week earlier. The children, ranging in age from 11-months old to 11-years old, were taken during a supervised visit with their biological parents. The one daughter and seven sons had originally been placed in foster care following allegations of abuse.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) investigated the child abductions at the Forestdale Child Agency in Forest Hills, Queens. Arrest warrants were obtained against the biological parents.

On September 26, the U.S. Marshals Service was contacted directly by the NYPD regarding this case. An investigative lead was developed in Harrisburg.

At approximately 9:30PM, U.S. Marshals located a vehicle which closely matched the description of the vehicle used in the abduction. A short time later, U.S. Marshals approached the vehicle in the vicinity of 17th and Berryhill Streets in Harrisburg. A team of Marshals and NYC PD Officers approached the vehicle and found all eight children and both fugitives inside. The children were found to be in good condition. Both parents were arrested. It appeared as though everyone intended to spend the night in the vehicle.

Shanel Nadal, 28, and Nephra Payne, 34, did not resist arrest. They were turned over to local authorities for processing and booking. The children were turned over to the Dauphin County Children and Youth Services, pending coordination with their New York counterparts.

U.S. Marshals were assisted by NYPD detectives and patrol officers from the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.

Acting U.S. Marshal Martin J. Pane stated, “The U.S. Marshals Service committed all its efforts to finding these innocent young children. Their safe recovery is a testament to the cooperative efforts of U.S. Marshals and their law enforcement counterparts.”