Rochester woman failed to return children to guardians, police say

Brittney Adjutant (Police photo)

SOUTH LEBANON - A Rochester woman who failed to return her children after a visitation was arrested Sunday at a Lebanon campground after police were tipped off she was there.

Brittney Adjutant, 26, with a last known address of 42 North Main St. A-6, is the two children's biological, noncustodial mother. When she failed to return with the children, ages one and five, the children's court-ordered guardians called police around 2 a.m. on Sunday to report them missing.

Adjutant, who was located and arrested at the Salmon Falls Campground in South Lebanon about four hours later, was charged with being a Fugitive from Justice. She is being held without bail at the York County Jail and will be arraigned at Springville District Court later today. At that hearing she can either waive extradition or request that extradition proceedings commence.

The initial investigation originated in Middleton, N.H., and indicated Adjutant had taken the children out of state but officials had no idea where.

The Center for Missing and Exploited Children was notified of the case, and police alerts were sent nationwide.

The children were returned to their legal guardians unharmed, and the investigation continues.

The successful apprehension of Adjutant by police, who had no knowledge of the vehicle description, was hailed by Middleton police, who had asked for the public's help on social media outlets.

No amber alert was issued since police had no information to indicate that the children were in danger.

Those lending a hand in the arrest included the Rochester and Somersworth police departments, the Strafford County Dispatch Center and the Strafford County Attorney's Office.