Couple enters guilty plea agreement for kidnapping crime

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A Terre haute couple accused of kidnapping a child have admitted to the crime.

Nicholas Runyon and April Bell of Terre Haute have both pleaded guilty for allegedly kidnapping a 4-year-old boy back in July of 2011.

U.S. Attorney Joseph Hogsett says the couple made reference to the boy as their child and that was their motive to take the child and never return.

Hogsett says, "But clearly both of the defendants expressing a desire to resolve the case by pleading guilty and being held accountable for there alleged criminal conduct is good news I think, certainly for the government, the tax payers and the citizens of Terre Haute."

The couple lied to the mother of the boy saying they were taking the boy to a birthday party but then never returned.

Runyon and Bell traveled for three days across several state lines.

Police were able to track Runyon and Bell through a trail of ATM transactions from a credit card Bell stole from her mother.

The trail led police to a hotel in Pikeville, Kentucky where they arrested Runyon and Bell.

In plea agreements Runyon could face time in prison for no less than 20 years with supervised release for life and Bell could receive up to 20 years with supervised release for life.