Iowa’s second-ever Amber Alert was issued Sunday night after a Northwood boy was allegedly abducted by his parents who did not have custody of the child. Officials issued the alert shortly before 7:30 after 16-month-old Steven Pennington was abducted at around 4:45 P.M. from the Fallgatter’s Grocery Store in Northwood. Northwood police say Pennington was taken by his father, 21-year-old Jefford Mugan…and that his mother, Teresa Pennington, also was involved in the abduction from Steven’s grandparents, who have legal custody of the child. Police ended the alert about 90 minutes later when the child and suspects were located in Mason City. Mugan and Teresa Pennington have been arrested on charges of third-degree kidnapping and are expected to appear in court later today. The Amber Alert system was created last year to link state and local authorities with broadcasters, the National Weather Service, and the Iowa Lottery to issue alerts when a child in the state is abducted. Iowa’s first Amber Alert took place back in August, when a six-month-old Des Moines baby had been taken from her home by the child’s father.
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