A pre-preliminary hearing has been scheduled for a Chandler woman is charged with a felony after Lincoln County deputies responded to a reported child abduction.
Melisa Ann Elzey, about 44, was formally charged Sep. 19 in Lincoln County District Court with maliciously, forcibly or fraudulently taking or enticing away children.
Her bond has been set at $20,000 and she made her initial appearance on Sep. 21.
Special Judge Emily Mueller ordered her to return to court on Nov. 16 with an attorney for a further initial appearance.
Her pre-preliminary hearing is now scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 21.
Elzey is accused on Sep. 16, 2023, of fraudulently taking a 13-year-old from the person having the lawful charge of the child with the intent to transport the child out of Oklahoma without the consent of the person having lawful charge of the child.
Lincoln County Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Long in a probable cause affidavit states that shortly before 3 p.m. on Sep. 15 he was advised of a child abduction at 970902 S. 3430 Road, Chandler. Deputies Mark Kelly and Cody Coleman responded to the residence and contacted the reporting party, Briana Allen.
Allen told Coleman that the Oklahoma Department of Human Services had placed the 13-year-old in her protective custody at approximately 6 a.m. on Sep. 14. The 13-year-old was placed in the Allen residence after a domestic violence situation at the Elzey residence, 100549 S. Highway 177 in Meeker.
Long said in the affidavit as he was en route to the scene, he contacted DHS supervisor Ronna Cordis and inquired about the placement of the 13-year-old in the Allen residence. Cordis advised him that the placement was a safety plan after ongoing domestic violence at the Elzey residence.
Allen advised on-scene deputies she had observed the 13-year-old’s mother, Melisa Elzey, drive past her residence twice just prior to the disappearance of the child.
At 3:40 p.m., Deputy Mark Kelly advised the 13-year-old’s cell phone had Life 360 installed on it and they were currently plotting her at 562 W. Heritage Park Circle, McLoud.
Deputy Kelly requested McLoud Police Department to respond to the address and attempt to locate the missing juvenile and her mother.
A few minutes later McLoud Police arrived at that residence and located Elzey in the driveway, according to the affidavit.
Per the request of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Elzey was placed in investigative custody until Long could arrive at the scene. Just prior to his arrival, McLoud officers reported they had located the 13-year-old inside the residence.
Elzey continuously denied knowing the 13-year-old’s whereabouts.
As the investigation continued, S.E. advised an officer she and her mother were getting ready to leave for California.
Long later took Elzey to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Cordis took custody of the 13-year-old.