Lake In The Hills Man, Woman Arrested In Child's Kidnapping

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — A Lake in the Hills mother and father accused of kidnapping their 5-year-old daughter are in custody, authorities said.

The girl was abducted from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services office located on Newell Street in Woodstock, according to a news release from the Woodstock Police Department.

Authorities learned the girl's parents, Jeffrey S. Cook, 57, and Jessica Walsh, 29, took the child after the child was recently appointed to the custody of DCFS by the McHenry County Circuit Court, according to the news release. Officials said the couple took the girl and then fled Woodstock in a vehicle.

The Lake in the Hills Police Department found the couple's vehicle in the area of their home in Lake in the Hills, according to the release. Police obtained a search warrant and found Cook and Walsh hiding in the home with the 5-year-old girl.

Cook and Walsh were arrested, and child abduction charges have been filed against them, according to the news release.

The girl was evaluated by paramedics and taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure before custody was turned over to DCFS.

Walsh and Cook remain behind bars as they await an initial court appearance.

An investigation into the kidnapping is ongoing.