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Boy abducted from Indiana in 1994 found in Minnesota

The Todd County Sheriff's Office says Richard Wayne Landers Jr. now lives in the small northern Minnesota town of Long Prairie under the name Michael Jeff Landers.

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Indiana State Police/AP
This photo provided by the Indiana State Police shows Richard Wayne Landers, Jr. who authorities say was abducted from Indiana by his paternal grandparents in 1994 during custody proceedings. Authorities say a 24-year-old man with the same Social Security number and date of birth as Landers but living under a different name was located in October, 2012 in Long Prairie, Minn. Police said his grandparents were also living under aliases nearby and confirmed his identity.
  • By Ken Kusmer Associated Press

| INDIANAPOLIS

 Authorities have identified a 24-year-old man recently discovered living in Minnesota under an assumed name nearly two decades after his grandparents abducted him from Indiana.

The Todd County Sheriff's Office says Richard Wayne Landers Jr. now lives in the small northern Minnesota town of Long Prairie under the name Michael Jeff Landers.

Indiana State Police announced Thursday that Landers had been found, but didn't give his new name. They said Landers' paternal grandparents took him because they were upset over custody arrangements.

Minnesota officials say the grandparents, Raymond Michael Iddings and Susan Kay Iddings, verified Landers' identity.

Charges against the grandparents were dismissed in 2008 because the case had gone cold. The Minnesota sheriff said the case will eventually be forwarded to the U.S. attorney general for possible charges.

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