GARDEN COUNTY, NE —Law enforcement continue investigating a suspect in connection with an alleged abduction.
On Friday the Garden County Nebraska sheriff's office reported sheriff's deputies successfully rescued three children and two women after a suspect drove at high speeds with the victims in the vehicle.
On February 28, Garden County dispatch received multiple 911 calls from the victims, a Deputy was able to locate and stop the suspect's vehicle.
Earlier in the day, the victims had been advised by the Deuel County Sheriff's Department not to travel without proper child safety seats. While seeking assistance in Big Springs, the women encountered the suspect, who offered to take them to Walmart in Ogallala to purchase car seats.
Instead, after approximately 30 minutes, the suspect informed them he was taking them to his house for illicit purposes. The suspect also displayed inappropriate images, burned one of the women with a cigarette and continuously yelled at the victims, causing them significant distress.
On March 4, Carl C Thomas of Morrill was arraigned in Garden County Court on multiple felony charges, including kidnapping, second degree assault, first degree imprisonment, felony child abuse and willful reckless driving. His bond has been set at $5,000,000 with his next court date scheduled for a later time. Authorities have uncovered a concerning multi-state criminal history linked to Thomas.
The swift and diligent actions of the Garden County Sheriff's Office and Garden County Emergency Managment Communications ensured the safety of the victims and prevented a potentially tragic outcome. The Garden County Sheriff's Office remains committed to protecting the community and assisting vulnerable individuals in distress.