A heartbroken father has put up his classic Harley-Davidson motorcycle as a reward after his 11-month-old daughter was snatched by her own mother.
Officials say the tot’s mum – named as Adrienne Grace Marean, 35 – kidnapped baby Iris rather than obey a court order to hand the child to dad Carl Chidester.
The US Marshals Service has requested help to find Marean and Iris.
The snatch took place in Bridgeport, which is a city in Harrison County, in the south-eastern US state of West Virginia, when Marean apparently fled with Iris.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the US Marshals Service in which it said: “The U.S. Marshals Service is requesting the public’s assistance in apprehending a woman wanted in Bridgeport for felony concealment of a child.”
It added that the mother violated a Harrison County Family Court order that instructed her to hand over her 11-month-old child, named as Iris Chidester, to her father.
It said: “Adrienne Grace Marean, 35, was charged March 7 by the Bridgeport Police Department for allegedly violating a Harrison County Family Court order to transfer custody of 11-month-old Iris Chidester Feb. 25.”
The US marshals have requested the public’s assistance in locating the fugitive mother, saying: “Marean is a white female, stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs approximately 165 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.
“Chidester is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is approximately 3 feet tall and 17 pounds.
“In addition to Bridgeport, Marean has ties to multiple areas in western New York.
“Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Marean or the missing child should contact the U.S. Marshals Service at (304) 623-0486, the Bridgeport Police Department at (304) 842-8260 or contact 911 for immediate assistance. Tips may also be submitted via the USMS Tips app.”
The dad, meanwhile, named as Carl Chidester, has started a GoFundMe campaign and legal fund (www.gofundme.com/f/iris-chidester-legal-fund) for the safe return of his daughter.
The crowdfunding campaign has so far raised just over USD 2,000 out of a USD 20,000 goal, and Chidester said: “Hi, My name is Carl Chidester II (Two), and my daughter has been kidnapped by her mother.
“Iris is registered as a missing person with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Her mother has felony warrants for Parental Kidnapping, and Concealing a minor in another state.”
Chidester added: “Iris was last seen with her mother, Adrienne Marean, in a silver 2015 Toyota Prius with Yellow New York plates JJR-1907.
“I have been blessed with a diligent Legal and Investigative team in New York, but the cost for their services is becoming too much to handle.
“I’m ashamed to ask for donations from kind friends, acquaintances, and strangers, so I’ll also be gifting my 2005 Harley-Davidson 1200c Sportster with this fundraiser. Any donations of $100 or more will be entered into a drawing to be held at a later date.”
It is currently unclear why the mother was ordered by the court to hand over her child to its father.
