January 10, 2013

A boy who was abducted in 1994 has been found after 18 years, living and married in Missouri.

Richard Wayne Landers of Wolcottville, Ind. in LaGrange County was only 5-years-old when he went missing on July 29, 1994. It was always believed he was taken by his non-custodial grandparents, Richard E. Landers and Ruth Ann Landers following a custody dispute.

In September, new information found by Richard's parents led detectives to a man in Long Prairie, Minn. who was using a Social Security number and date of birth that was the same as Richard's.

Combined efforts by the Long Prairie Police Department, Todd County Sheriff Department, FBI and the Social Security Administration led the investigation to an elderly couple in Browerville, Minn. that turned out to be the Landers' who were living under an assumed name. They spoke with the detectives and verified that the man using the social security number was their grandson.

Initially, arrest warrants were issued for the Landers' for Interference with Custody, but in September 2008 the LaGrange County Prosecutor's Office filed a letter with the court and the chargers were dropped.

"It's nice to put closure to this case and now the family can begin the process of re-connecting with their loved ones," La Grange County Sheriff Terry Martin told the Journal Gazette.

Because the statue of limitations has expired in LaGrange county, there will be no charges filed against Richard or Ruth Landers.