Illinois man arrested on kidnapping charge

SIKESTON, Mo. -- An Illinois man was arrested for kidnapping early Sunday after bringing a 13-year-old girl to a Sikeston hotel.

Steven Larson, 60, of Altamont, Illinois, was arrested in Sikeston on a kidnapping warrant from the Illinois State Police.

The Sikeston Department of Public Safety was contacted at 1:59 a.m. Sunday by the Illinois State Police regarding an Amber Alert on the girl, said Sikeston police Capt. Bill Mygatt, and advised there was a kidnapping warrant for a 60-year-old white male.

"She was his karate student," Mygatt said. "She apparently went with him voluntarily."

Illinois authorities said they had information indicating the girl was in a room with the suspect at the Days Inn in Sikeston.

"Apparently he and the juvenile were dropped off there by someone else, and they were there without a vehicle," Mygatt said.

Using a key card provided by hotel staff, law enforcement officers entered a hotel room and found the missing girl and suspect inside.

"They were asleep in different beds at the time," Mygatt said.

Illinois authorities interviewed Larson at the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Mygatt said, and will extradite Larson back to Effingham, Illinois.

"The juvenile was returned to her parents," Mygatt said.

By press time, Larson remained in the Scott County Jail with a bond set at $250,000.