CRYSTAL WILLIAMS
BY STACI WILSON
A 20-year-old mother is in jail and stands accused of felony kidnapping after she failed to return her two-year-old child after a scheduled visitation.
Crystal Williams who formerly resided in Hallstead andAthens, and may have recently been living inMichigan, picked up the toddler at about10:30 a.m., Oct. 1, at a residence in Bridgewater Twp. and was scheduled to bring the child back by7 p.m.that same evening.
Williams never returned with the child.
She was charged by Tpr. Craig Purdum with one felony count of kidnapping – interference; and a felony count of interference with the custody of children.
Williams waived her Monday, Oct. 17, preliminary hearing. She is being held on $100,000 bail.
According to the affidavit, in mid-September, Williams had contacted the child’s father and told him she wanted to be involved in the child’s life and a visitation day was arranged. Williams had not seen the child in about four months, police reported.
The child’s father, who is not identified to protect the child’s identity, notified state police after he attempted to contact Williams on Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. and discovered the only phone number he had for the woman was no longer in service.
He also attempted to contact her through Facebook and found privacy settings on her account had been changed and he had no longer access to Williams’ page.
The father of the boy located someone who still had access to Williams’ Facebook page and found she appeared to be traveling toMichiganwith the child, according to the affidavit.
One online conversation was noted in the police criminal complaint. According to the affidavit, Williams had been asked if she was bringing the child back with her.
According to police, Williams’ online reply was, “yeah, lol (laugh out loud).”
The child’s father has primary physical custody and Williams had joint visitation.
The father told police that all matters relating to the child were to be mutually agreed upon based on a court order issued inSusquehannaCounty.
Williams also waived a preliminary hearing Monday on theft charges stemming from an April 18 incident in Great Bend Twp.
In that case, she was charged with two counts of theft by unlawful taking and one count of retail theft.
On May 13, police also issued a summary disorderly conduct citation to Williams in connection with an incident in New Milford Borough.
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