HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

August 28, 2018 For immediate release:

Four children who were abducted from Lima in the early hours of Tuesday morning were located in Kenton Tuesday afternoon, following an intensive search by Hardin County Sheriff's deputies, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The children had been taken from a Lima residence by their mother, Marianne Merritt, who does not have custody rights and her boyfriend, Charles Perkins.

Acting upon information from the Lima Office of the FBI and the Lima Police Department deputies located the children at a Kenton residence. The children were safe and unharmed. Both Merritt and Perkins were taken into custody at the residence. James Edge, a resident of the home was taken into custody on an order of arrest from the Adult Parole Authority.

The children were placed in the care of agents of the Allen County Children's Services.

The Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Hardin County Job & Family Services, Hardin County Prosecutor's Office and Osborn Towing and Recovering each aided in the investigation.