A 54-year-old Des Moines man has been arrested and charged with child stealing in connection with the temporary disappearance of a four-year-old visiting the state capitol. On Saturday, February 4th, the child was visiting the state capitol when he went missing. State troopers found the kid with 54-year-old Stephen Craig Lueder, who had worked as a tour guide in the statehouse.
Lueder and the child were found in an area of the capitol that is not open to the public, but according to a statement released by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, “It does not appear as if the child was physically injured” after spending about 20 minutes alone with Lueder. Lueder was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with child stealing, which suggests Lueder “enticed” the child into the room where they were found.
The head of the Iowa State Patrol says the incident is unfortunate, but Colonel Robert Garrison said the Capitol and other state buildings “are safe places for families to visit.”