Suspect in abduction of son arrested

Wednesday, May 5, 2004 | 10:27 a.m.

A woman accused of abducting her own toddler from the home of the boy's father in Las Vegas two months ago was arrested in Alabama, Attorney General Brian Sandoval said Tuesday.

The boy, who turned 2 on April 23, is in good condition and is expected to be reunited this week with his father, Matthew English, a 19-year-old Las Vegas resident who had been awarded custody of the boy on Nov. 3, 2003.

On Feb. 12, English had gone to work while Kristin Strickland, 19, was visiting their son at English's home, Deputy Attorney General Matthew Dushoff said. When English came home that day, Strickland, the boy and the child's belongings were gone.

Strickland was arrested in Talladega, Ala., Tuesday as she applied for a driver's license. A routine check turned up the Las Vegas warrant for her arrest. She is charged with felony abduction of her son.

English was making arrangements late Tuesday to go to Alabama to be reunited with his son, Dushoff said.

"He's so overjoyed," Dushoff said. Strickland will be returned to Nevada to face a felony count of removing a child from a person having custody, Dushoff said.

If convicted, she could get probation or could be sentenced to up to four years in state prison, Dushoff said.