Camdenton, MO - 04-15-24 - Friday afternoon, 04-12-24, deputies from the Camden County Sheriff's Office, and deputies from the United States Marshals Service rescued two children and arrested two parents from Florida in a child abuse investigation.

Deputies from the US Marshals contacted our detective bureau Friday morning and requested our assistance in locating two missing and endangered children from Escambia County, Florida. An Escambia County judge signed an order to take the two children into custody in March after the Florida Department of Children and Families determined them to be living in unsafe and abusive conditions. Their investigation revealed evidence of the children being inhumanely restrained and evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing and drug abuse in the home where the family was squatting. Before Florida law enforcement could seize the children per the court order, the parents fled the state with them both.

US Marshals tracked the two fugitives, 38-year-old Nikolas A Harris and 33-year-old Helen E Harris of Pensacola, Florida through several states and then to the Springfield and Branson areas before pinpointing them to a residence in the Osage Beach area. Camden County Deputies served a search warrant on the residence on Channel Buoy Drive where both parents were arrested, and the children were rescued. During the search of the residence, deputies located methamphetamines and drug paraphernalia consistent with the allegations from Florida.

Nikolas A Harris and Helen A Harris were arrested and transported to the Camden County Adult Detention Facility where they were each charged with the Class D Felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance and two counts each of the Class D Felony of 1st Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. Both are being held without bond.

The children were turned over to the Missouri Children's Division who are coordinating with the Florida authorities to take them to a safe place in an undisclosed location.

A reminder that these charges are merely allegations of wrongdoing. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.