Two Le Mars teens are telling police they were not kidnapped by a Le Mars man. An Amber Alert was issued Sunday afternoon for 17-year-old Janet Haugen and 16-year-old Chassa Norris.
The two teens, who are both from Le Mars, were with 19-year-old Nathan Hemmingsen and police described him as dangerous. But the teens have now told Le Mars police officer Justin Daale they left with Hemmingsen voluntarily. “There was no abduction. They left of their own free will. At no time were they ever kept against their will,” Daale says. “It ends up being they wanted to get away on some sort of vacation.”
The teenagers’ parents had reported the girls as missing late Saturday night. Officer Daale says the teens had only known Hemmingsen for two weeks, and didn’t know his background. “Due to Mr. Hemmingsen’s past history and some of the charges he was facing, we felt the girls weren’t aware…of the subject they were with and felt that being around Mr. Hemmingsen could put them in danger,” Daale says.
The girls are now back at home with their parents. Hemmingsen faces drug charges in Sioux City.