Couple Accused of Kidnapping Amish Girls

A couple from Hermon, New York was arrested on Friday in connection with the kidnapping of two young Amish girls. Stephen Howells, 39, and Nicole Vaisey, 25, have each been charged with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, indicating an intention to physically harm or sexually abuse the girls. “The motive was to victimize children,” St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells said during a news conference. “The girls have been victims of crimes. That’s the only details we’ll give.” According to Wells, the couple used “coercion tactics” to lure the two sisters, aged 7 and 12, into their car at a stand in Oswegatchie, New York, where the girls sold vegetables. He added that Howells and Vaisey, who are currently being held without bail, may have planned to kidnap more girls.