Rusk County, WI – A months-long missing child investigation spanning Wisconsin and Iowa ended this week with four people taken into custody, including the child’s father, according to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, authorities first received a report in November 2025 involving a missing child out of Kossuth County, Iowa, who was believed to be living in Rusk County, Wisconsin with their father. After a lengthy investigation, deputies executed a search warrant on Monday, January 19, at a residence located on N5069 Highway 73 in the Township of Richland.
During the warrant execution, Glen Flora residents Emil Roth, 59, and Audrey Roth, 59, were taken into custody for allegedly interfering with parental custody, a party-to-a-crime offense. Both were transported to jail pending further court proceedings.
Investigators also arrested the child’s father, Douglas Roth, 33, in Taylor County, Wisconsin, on an active felony warrant issued out of Kossuth County, Iowa, for kidnapping, according to authorities. Law enforcement did not release additional details about the child’s condition but confirmed the case remains under investigation.
The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office credited several agencies for their assistance, including the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office (Iowa), Barron/Rusk Emergency Response Team, Wisconsin Joint Tactical Team, Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation, Rusk County DHHS Child Services, Medford Police Department, and the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials emphasized that the coordinated response was critical in safely resolving the case.
Anyone with additional information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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