UPDATE: KIWA News has learned that the 1-year-old child, Jasper, has been found unharmed in Texas after Sheldon authorities asked Texas authorities to do a welfare check.
Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch says the matter is, in fact, a custody dispute.
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Original story posted 8/11/23 at 12:00 p.m.:
Sheldon, Iowa — The Sheldon Police Department is looking for a missing 19-year-old and a missing 1-year-old.
According to the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Jake Gritten was caring for 1-year-old Jasper. They say they were last seen in Sheldon Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Prairie Ridge Apartments on 16th Street.
They have attempted to call Gritten, but there was no answer.
Sheldon Police Chief Scott Burtch says that at this time, it appears to be a custody matter, but they are still trying to locate the child to check his welfare and the 1-year-old’s father to see if it is, in fact, a custody dispute. Burtch says Gritten is a family member who was babysitting the child.
If you have any information, you are asked to please call the Sheldon Police Department at 712-324-2525 or the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office at 712-957-3415. You can also leave a tip through the O’Brien County Crime Duster’s page.
