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Police: Noncustodial father charged after taking children

The children, ages 12 and 15, were reported missing from their Sappington home Monday evening. They both were found safe Tuesday evening in Minnesota.
Credit: KSDK

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A Sappington father has been charged after police say he took his children, whom he does not have custody of, from their mother's home earlier this week and left the state with them.

On Tuesday, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office issued warrants on suspect Christopher Gonzalez, 43, of St. Louis, for one count of interference with custody.

An Endangered Person Advisory was issued for the two children on Monday. According to a probable cause statement from the St. Louis County Police Department, Gonzalez contacted his daughter on her cell phone at about 3:15 p.m., which violated a court order prohibiting him from contacting his children. 

By 5:20 p.m., the children were reported missing from their home by their mother, according to the statement. 

Police in Alberta Lea, Minnesota, found both children safe with Gonzalez on Nov. 29, according to the statement.  

Gonzalez was being held Wednesday on $20,000 cash-only, no 10% bond.

St. Louis County detectives from the Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are leading this investigation. 

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