Fifth missing child found in kidnapping situation

Published 11:15 pm Friday, October 5, 2018

Law enforcement announced Friday morning that 16-year-old Morgan Cooley has been located.

Early Thursday evening at around 5:45 p.m., Cooley, the oldest child of Izetta Cooley’s five children, turned himself in to Moorhead police, according to Mower County Senior Sgt. Investigator Steve Sandvik.

On Thursday Izetta Cooley, 39, of Moorhead was charged in Mower County District Court with two counts of felony kidnapping-to facilitate felony or flight and two counts of felony deprive of custody right-violation of court order-take minor.

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Her next appearance will be on Oct. 18.

Morgan Cooley, along with his four siblings, are currently in the care of Clay County Social Services.

At this time, no reason has been given as to why Morgan Cooley didn’t turn himself in earlier or his whereabouts, but Sandvik said the boy was in good physical condition.

Being Native American, social services will begin working with the tribes to decide on what’s best for the children through the Indian Welfare Act, which stipulates that any time a case like this takes place outside the tribes that they will be consulted as to what’s best for the child.

It’s unclear which specific tribe the Cooleys belong to.

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped with this effort … to bring this to a safe and happy conclusion,” Sandvik said.

 

See what happened last night in the PM report here.