Man Allegedly Kidnapped 4 Children, Drove Off with Them in the Backseat of His Car

Police in Illinois are searching for a man accused of kidnapping four children, even after the children were found safe.

The Riverdale Police Department (RPD) said in a statement on Saturday, Oct. 25, that officers successfully located the four children but are still looking for the suspect, identified as 29-year-old Austin Bell.

According to authorities, officers responded around 1:30 a.m. local time to a report of a “domestic-related kidnapping” on the 13600 block of Lowe Avenue in Riverdale. An Amber Alert issued shortly afterward said Bell had allegedly driven off in a 2010 silver Acura with the four children — 10-year-old Nia Hill and 7-year-old triplets Nolan, Nova, and Noah Hill — in the backseat.

Investigators said Bell is not the father of the children and was last seen wearing a black varsity jacket with white stitching.

Following the alert, the children’s mother, local police, and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force conducted an extensive search to locate them.

“The Riverdale Police Department is using every available resource to locate these children and bring them home safely,” Riverdale police Chief Mark Kozeluh said when the Amber Alert was first issued. “We are working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as the community, to follow every lead and spare no effort. Our priority is the safe return of these children, and we are asking anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact us immediately.”

In an update around 7 a.m., the RPD confirmed the children had been found and were being medically evaluated as a precaution. Police did not release details on where they were found or whether the 2010 silver Acura had been located.

Anyone with information about Austin Bell’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Riverdale Police Department Detective Division at (708) 841-2203.