JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville truck driver is facing federal kidnapping charges after police in Winslow, Ariz. said he kidnapped a brother and sister from Texas.
Electronic communications led Marshall Pendergrass, 47, of Jacksonville to a girl, 14, and her brother, 12, in Belton, Texas, according to Winslow police.
Officers found the children in the sleeper cab of Pendergrass’ semi-truck near Interstate-40. The children were allegedly held against their will but found in good health.
“That’s the best part,” said Eddie Wiseman, who lives a few houses down from Pendergrass on Harrisburg road in West Jacksonville. “As long as they’re alright.”
Pendergrass always seemed outwardly friendly, but he always sensed something was amiss, Wiseman said.
“I’ve been keeping my kid away from him and I’ve been having my own father instincts about this situation,” Wiseman said.
Pendergrass’ wife offered a different perspective on her husband.
“He’s never been arrested and never done anything like this,” said his wife Michelle Pendergrass. “If he picked them up, he picked them up so that somebody else wouldn’t, like a predator or something.”
Pendergrass is not related to the children. They’ve been turned over to the Arizona Department of Child Services.
Pendergrass is behind bars in Arizona facing federal charges. The FBI is investigating.
