New York couple arrested in Amish girls' kidnapping

Friday, August 15, 2014

ALBANY, N.Y. - A northern New York couple has been accused of kidnapping two Amish sisters from their family's roadside farm stand.

St. Lawrence County's District Attorney Mary Rain says 39-year-old Stephen Howells and 25-year-old Nicole Vaisey of Hermon were each charged Friday with two counts each of first-degree kidnapping.

She says they're in custody awaiting arraignment Friday night and additional charges are possible.

The sisters vanished Wednesday evening in Oswegatchie, touching off a massive search in the farming community near the Canadian border.

They turned up safe Thursday night at the door of a house 15 miles from their home.

Authorities had been tight-lipped about details, including what happened to 7-year-old Delila Miller and 12-year-old Fannie Miller while missing.

Shocked residents were reluctant to let their children play outdoors since the episode.