Raleigh arrest nabs Oregon fugitive in child kidnapping; 3 missing children found in Wake Forest: US Marshals

CORRECTION: This story has been corrected regarding the location of the suspect’s arrest.

Read more Record turnout for UNC stadium stair climb 25 years after Sept. 11 attacks

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A woman was arrested in Raleigh by U.S. Marshals Thursday on a fugitive child kidnapping charge, with three missing children found in Wake Forest, according to Wake County arrest records and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Jennifer Lynn Blackthorne, 41, was wanted on a kidnapping charge from Douglas, Oregon, according to arrest records.

After the arrest of Blackthorne, authorities checked a Wake Forest home where they found three missing children ages 4, 8, and 10, including the child linked to the kidnapping charge, U.S. Marshals told CBS 17.

Blackthorne was tracked from the West Coast to Pennsylvania, then Florida, and now North Carolina, a Wake County magistrate said in a conditions of release order.

U.S. Marshals said they received a tip from Oregon on Monday about Blackthorne possibly being in the Raleigh area.

Read more Fayetteville readies for night of joy and purpose at 10th annual Health & Fitness Cancer Awareness event

Blackthorne, who has an address in Roseburg, Oregon, was arrested Thursday at a Discount Tire shop in the 11000 block of Capital Boulevard of Raleigh, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Three missing children, who are all Blackthorne’s biological children, were later recovered at a home along West Chestnut Street in Wake Forest, officials said. The child linked to the kidnapping charge was reported missing on June 9, 2022, U.S. Marshals said.

Also found in Wake Forest were two other missing children, one reported missing from Pennsylvania in early August 2023, and the other was reported missing on April 29 from Washington State, according to U.S. Marshals.

U.S Marshals added that the children were all in good condition and were turned over to North Carolina Child Protective Services.

Blackthorne is scheduled to appear in Wake County District Court on Friday afternoon.

Read more 2026 on track to have latest first hurricane on record