A father and son wanted for sex crimes in southeast Iowa have been captured in Texas. Ottumwa Police Lieutenant Tom McAndrew says 46-year-old Michael Connell and his 18-year-old son, John, had been on the run for a month.
“We have charges of sex abuse against both subjects here in Iowa…sex abuse of some children,” McAndrew said. Police in El Paso, Texas stopped a van driven by the elder Connell as it was identified as being involved in the robbery of a convenience store.
El Paso Police contacted Iowa authorities after noticing Michael Connell was wanted in Ottumwa. “Our dispatch notified them that there was probably another wanted subject in the area and a short time we received (word) from El Paso that both Connells were in custody,” McAndrew said.
The Connells are also accused of stealing the van on June 9 in Kirksville, Missouri. Michael Connell was wanted in Iowa for multiple sex offenses, including indecent contact with a child.
John Connell was wanted for three counts of second-degree sexual abuse.