Suspect arrested in Ogden kidnapping case
Apr 8, 2022, 10:03 PM | Updated: Apr 10, 2022, 9:13 pm
Image of 4-year-old Wyatt Pearce (left) and his mother Taryn Pearce. Photo credit: South Ogden Police Department.
(left)
OGDEN, Utah – Police have arrested Christopher Merino, age 32, and charged him with child kidnapping, a first-degree felony.
The charge is in relation to the disappearance of Taryn Pearce, age 37, who police said fled with her 4-year-old son before a court-ordered child custody exchange with the boy’s father on Monday, April 4.
Taryn Pearce was the original kidnapping suspect. However, Merino, Pearce’s boyfriend, was interviewed by police and based on information he gave them, he was arrested.
Police said that Taryn Pearce took the child to La Barge, Wyoming. La Barge police were contacted and after a coordinated effort, Pearce and the child were located. Pearce was also charged with kidnapping and will be extradited to Utah.
The child is in good health and will be reunited with his father when he arrives to La Barge.
