Missing Lakeville Children Found Safe, Mother Arrested
LAKEVILLE (CBS) – Two children who were reported missing in Lakeville have been found safe. Authorities say the children were taken by their mother, 47-year-old Valerie McGrath, on Sunday.
McGrath took the children with their father's permission in the afternoon and said she'd return them at 5 p.m., but never did.
The children, a five-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl, were found safe in Raynham Monday evening and McGrath was arrested.
Police say McGrath was spotted in Swansea with the children at about 3:30 pm and the Land Rover she had been driving was later found in a field off of Sharps Lot Rd.
State Police located McGrath and the children in a McDonald's drive-thru on Route 138 in Raynham in a car she had rented in Fall River.
The father, Steven Carrigan, has sole custody of the children.
"I'm just glad they're back," Carrigan said Monday night. "They seem pretty happy."
He says McGrath took the children Sunday to celebrate his son's birthday.
"She still loves the kids," Carrigan said. "I was praying that she wasn't going to do anything to harm them."
Police and family were not able to reach McGrath, and obtained a warrant for minor kidnapping by a relative.
"Due to the actions and statements made by McGrath in the last few weeks the Police Department has concerns for the safety of the children," officials said in a statement Monday.
Carrigan was reunited with his children in Raynham and was surprised they were found so close to home.
"I think they're both excited about going home and I am too," Carrigan said.
McGrath is being held on $10,000 cash bail and will be arraigned Tuesday in Wareham District Court.
