Two Frederick Children Kidnapped by Man, Police Later Safely Returned Them To Their Father

The children were forcibly removed from their home Saturday

Frederick, Md. – Two children in Frederick County were abducted by a man from their home, and later safely returned by Sherriff’s deputies.

The drama unfolded Saturday at 3:45 PM when Frederick County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to an abduction in progress at the 8200 block of Reich’s Ford Road. Dispatchers told deputies that the father of two young children was following the suspect who had just forcefully removed the children from his residence.

The suspect, Christopher Wade Schultz, 40, of Frederick, eventually stopped his vehicle and parked in a nearby business parking lot.

As deputies approached Schultz, he refused to obey their commands and got out and opened the back door of his vehicle, removing a Rottweiler dog and holding it by his side. As Schultz opened the door to get the dog out, deputies were able to identify one of the children in the backseat.

Through discussions with Schultz and the children’s father, deputies confirmed Schultz had no relation or rights to the children and placed him into custody.

“The quick response and interception of the suspect by our deputies prevented this from being a further traumatic situation for the children,” said Lt. Jason Deater, FCSO Patrol Operations assistant commander. “The attempted abduction was quickly resolved, and the children were expeditiously and safely reunited with their family.”

Schultz was taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and charged with two counts of abduction for children under 12, two counts of kidnapping for children under 16, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of home invasion, 3rd-degree burglary, trespassing on posted property, and 2nd-degree assault.