Lakeville Mother Arraigned On Kidnapping Charges

LAKEVILLE (CBS) -- A mother was held on $50,000 bail Tuesday after police say she kidnapped her children and led them on a search throughout the day Monday.

Valerie McGrath, 47, was arraigned on two counts each of reckless endangerment of a child and kidnapping of a minor by a relative.

Police say McGrath took the children with their father's permission Sunday. She said she would return them by 5 p.m., but never did. The father, Steven Carrigan, has sole custody of the children, a five-year-old boy and seven-year-old girl.

The children were found safe in a McDonald's drive-thru on Route 138 in Raynham Monday.

Prosecutors said they found a suicide note in McGrath's car, saying that she couldn't live without seeing her children any longer. They said she kidnapped the children with the intention of killing them and then herself, upset that she had lost custody of them. They argued the incident proves McGrath is a danger to her children and should be kept away from them.

McGrath's defense, however, said McGrath told them the father of the children was abusive, and the children were scared to go home.

Police say McGrath was spotted in Swansea with the children at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, and the Land Rover she had been driving was later found in a field off of Sharps Lot Road. She had rented a white car in Fall River, in which the children were later found.

"I'm just glad they're back," Carrigan said Monday night. "They seem pretty happy."

Carrigan said McGrath took the children Sunday to celebrate his son's birthday. When police and family were unable to reach McGrath, they obtained a warrant for minor kidnapping by a relative.

"She still loves the kids," Carrigan said. "I was praying that she wasn't going to do anything to harm them."

He said he's prepared for questions from the children over the holidays as their mother faces charges.