Grandmother, Father Held on Kidnap Charge

An unemployed Utah man and his 49-year-old mother were arrested in Orange County early Monday on charges they abducted the man’s two children more than 3 years ago in a custody battle with his ex-wife, authorities said.

Scott Bradley Grud, 28, and his mother, Barbara Marie Grud, were arrested after police in Orange stopped Grud for a traffic violation. Officer checked records and discovered that Grud was wanted in connection with the disappearance of his two children, ages 9 and 10, a police spokesman said.

The children, who had been missing from their Utah home since 1985, were found unharmed in an apartment Grud and his mother rented in Santa Ana, Sgt. Paul Gibbs said.

Grud and his mother were being held in Orange County Jail without bail Monday night on suspicion of child stealing, Gibbs said. The children were taken to Orangewood Children’s Home, where they will remain until they are reunited with their mother, Gibbs said.

“The mother is very, very happy,” Gibbs said. “It’s the best Christmas gift that she could have received.”

Grud was stopped by police about 3 a.m. Monday after the pickup truck he was driving had been spotted near several trash bin fires in the 1700 block of West Chapman Avenue, Gibbs said. He was taken into custody without incident.

“He was surprised, but he didn’t try to resist,” said Gibbs.

Upon questioning, Grud told police about his apartment on South Lyon Street in Santa Ana, where officers later found Grud’s mother and the children, Gibbs said.