Why did authorities wait so long to issue an Amber Alert?
Published at | Updated at
Idaho State Police spokeswoman Teresa Baker posted the following on ISP’s blog explaining why am Amber Alert was issued Monday.
The Idaho State Police has issued an AMBER Alert for three Caldwell children that are believed to be traveling with Jason “Travis” Simon, 37 of Caldwell, who is wanted for questioning in a child sexual abuse case. This alert was issued today at the request of the Caldwell Police Department after new circumstances arose in the investigation concerning the missing children.
Two of the children, Lewis “Louie” Dunn, age 10, Kaylee Dunn, age 9, are the children of Sarah Joy VanOcker-Dunn, 38 of Nampa, and Jesse Dunn. VanOcker-Dunn fled Idaho on June 2nd with Simon and his child, Kadyn Simon, age 6.
A change in circumstances arose which allowed the issuance of the AMBER Alert outside of the normal guidelines for an AMBER Alert when a felony arrest warrant for custodial interference for VanOcker-Dunn was issued.
VanOcker-Dunn, the mother of Louie and Kaylee, did not have Jesse Dunn’s permission to leave the Idaho with the children. Simon is currently being sought for questioning in a child sexual abuse case out of Caldwell, Idaho. All three children are believed to be in imminent danger at this time.
Simon, VanOcker-Dunn and the three children were last seen in Idaho at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 2nd in Emmett where they obtained camping equipment from VanOcker-Dunn’s parents’ home. Caldwell Police believe the duo could be in California as they were seen in Arcata, California on Wednesday, June 8th, or they may be in Sparks, Nevada, as they were seen there yesterday, Sunday, June 12th. They were last seen driving a gold 2006 Pontiac Montana with Idaho Plate 2CJN683, registered to VanOcker-Dunn’s ex-husband Jesse Dunn. The whereabouts of Simon, VanOcker-Dunn and the children are currently unknown.
An arrest warrant for Simon for sex abuse of a child under 16 is now active out of Canyon County and an arrest warrant for VanOcker-Dunn has for felony custodial interference is also active out of Canyon County.
If contact is made with Simon, VanOcker-Dunn, or any of the children the public is advised to dial 9-1-1. Please provide as accurate information on the location of any of those sought as possible.