Children Found in Utah Head Home to Washington

Samantha Hayes Reporting Two young children reported missing nearly six months ago tonight are heading back home.

The children were discovered yesterday in South Jordan with their mother, who police say has an arrest record and is not their legal custodian.

She is now in jail and the children are back with their father.

We talked to the children's father and the family members close to the children's mother. They have conflicting stories on why this happened.

For more than six months, the only time this father saw the faces of his children was when he looked at the missing poster.

Now Shawn Sjomeling holds them in his arms again. Shawn Sjomeling, Father: "I just started crying. I thought it was a joke."

Police say Sjomeling had custody of the children when their mother, Christina Lasser, took them. A felony arrest warrant was issued for Lasser, who has family in Utah. That's why Sjomeling targeted local businesses with fliers and phone calls.

Shawn Sjomeling: "It's indescribable, you guys. A lot of work to be with them again."

A South Jordan woman recognized the children and Lasser at a strip mall and called police. Lasser's family says she ran away with the children because she was scared and was trying to get custody.

Eyewitness News checked arrest records in the couple's hometown in Washington County, Oregon. Deputies were called to their home two times in February last year for a family disturbance. In one case, Lasser was arrested.

Six months later, police say, she took the children and left.

Sjomeling says he just wants to get home.

Shawn Sjomeling: "Make sure I get them into daycare so I can keep working. Make sure he has a psychologist and stuff. Make sure he is alright and stable, and bond with my daughter again."

Now that the children have been found, it's up to the prosecutor in Washington as to whether charges will be pressed against Lasser.

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