Woman arrested in Missouri on abduction charge
On the Y-K Delta
A mother, who allegedly abducted her daughter and son in August 2004 and traveled out of Alaska, was arrested Sept. 7 in Macomb, Missouri on a Bethel warrant. Denise Jeanine Festervand (Denise Ebertz) was wanted by the Alaska State Troopers for two counts of custodial interference and the two children were considered missing. In 2006, law enforcement in Harrison, Arkansas served Festervand a child custody order, ordering she return the children to Alaska and she failed to do so. Festervand was considered dangerous by law enforcement due to her previous behavior and the investigation revealed she was armed with weapons.
The nationwide investigations ultimately lead to the arrest of Festervand on Sept. 7 in Macomb. The two missing children were placed into the custody of the State of Missouri, Family Services Division and will be reunited with their father, Peter Ebertz.
On Monday, September 10, 2012, Festervand was to appear before the court in Hartville, Missouri; pending her extradition based off the State of Alaska warrants.