PINEHURST — Joanie Wilson, age 27, is being held at the Dooly County Justice Center here after an ordeal in which she reportedly took her three children without authorization from a school bus ramp Tuesday morning.
Wilson left the children at a Rochelle address later that day and notified Wilcox County authorities of their whereabouts. The children were located and safely returned to their father, who has sole custody of the three.
Wilson reportedly fled the scene before the children were recovered.
It was unclear as of presstime if Wilson later turned herself in or if she was apprehended. Authorities in Wilcox County were not able to be reached for comment by deadline, but sources familiar with the case said Wilson is currently out on bond for a prior arrest.
Vienna Police Chief Jamey Reed said arrest warrants will be requested for Wilson this morning on three counts: criminal trespass on school grounds, disruption of schools, and interference with child custody. He said further charges may be filed as the investigation unfolds.
The incident began shortly after 8:30 Tuesday morning, when Vienna Police Department and Dooly County Sheriff’s Office authorities put out a BOLO (Be On Look Out) for Wilson and the three children. When the vehicle Wilson was suspected to be driving was located, the mother and her children were nowhere to be found.
It had been previously reported that an Amber alert was issued in connection to the case, but Reed said that only a BOLO was put out. He said he and Vienna investigators were fairly sure the case was more of a child-custody matter and not a kidnapping, but he alerted area law enforcement authorities in case Wilson tried to leave the immediate area with the children.
The three children were back in school in Dooly County Wednesday, Reed added.
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Joanie Wilson
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