ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A Mehlville woman is accused of taking her two children and fleeing the state to avoid turning the kids over to their father, who has legal custody.
According to Sgt. Tracy Panus, a St. Louis County Police Department spokeswoman, a man contacted police on Jan. 2 and asked that officers conduct a welfare check at a home in the 600 block of Sappington Barracks Road.
The man explained that he’d obtained custody of two children that he has in common with Jennifer Wilke via an order from a Florida court. The father told police Wilke had filed for an ex parte order of protection in St. Louis County Circuit Court and appeared for a hearing on Jan. 2.
However, the court upheld the Florida court’s ruling, dismissed Wilke’s ex parte filing, and ordered the children to be released to the father’s custody.
But after the hearing, Wilke allegedly fled with the children, ages 10 and 6, and has not been seen since.
Panus said officers received video of the children in a dark room and appeared to be frightened.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Jennifer Wilke, 46, with two counts of interference with custody – removed from state.
Police said Wilke’s vehicle is a silver 2019 Toyota Highlander. Her last known location was in the area of the 1500 block of West Highway 50 in O’Fallon, Illinois.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Wilke or the children is asked to call 911.