Topeka, KS - On Wednesday, February 27th, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force with assistance from the Riley County Police Department, Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol arrested Jeffrey Gilseth, 32, and Maria Gilseth, 32. The couple was wanted in Killeen, TX on charges of Interference with Child Custody and Unlawful Restraint. Arrest warrants were issued in Texas for the married couple on February 21st after they took their three children unlawfully and fled a supervised visitation with the children. The children were previously ordered removed from the couple’s custody and were court-ordered to reside with other adult relatives. The USMS adopted the case and began a fugitive investigation.
The couple’s vehicle was spotted in Riley County, Kansas by the Fugitive Task Force and officers surveilled and followed the vehicle until it arrived at a safe place to coordinate the arrest. Shortly before 1:00 PM, the vehicle was blocked in by officers at the I-70 East Turnpike Toll Gate in Topeka, Kansas and both subjects were taken into custody without incident. The three minor children case were also recovered safely. Jeffrey Gilseth and Maria Gilseth were booked into the Shawnee County Jail awaiting extradition back to Texas. The children were taken to a Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center for processing.
Ron Miller, US Marshal for Kansas said “This is another example of the daily coordination and cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement professionals who work to protect children in our society every day. Missing and Exploited children cases are among the duties and responsibilities of the US Marshals Service."
