By Lori Ehde
Two runaways from Pinnacle Programs Inc., Magnolia, are back in custody after fleeing the county in a stolen car.
The boys, ages 13 and 17, are from the Omaha, Neb., area and were completing treatment programs at the non-secure juvenile facility.
The boys reportedly left the facility in the early morning hours of Friday, July 12.
They attempted to steal Brad and Susan Skattum's car, which had been parked in their rural yard.
But after running the 1996 Dodge Intrepid into a well on the Skattum property, the boys abandoned the vehicle and headed toward Luverne.
Once there, they found Sue Kern's 1994 Ford Taurus parked in the driveway on Southwest Park Street with keys in the ignition.
When law enforcement in Jefferson, S.D., detained the boys on a moving violation, records showed the vehicle belonged to Kern, and the information was relayed to Rock County.
That was at 2:10 a.m. Monday, July 15. When local law enforcement called Kern to see if her vehicle had been stolen, she, at that time, thought it was still parked in the driveway.
One of the boys is in custody in Sioux City, Iowa, and one has been returned to Pinnacle Programs.
Felony charges are pending against both boys for the attempted theft of the Skattum car and for theft of Kern's car.
The Skattum vehicle sustained roughly $3,000 in damage, and costs were also incurred by damage to the well.
The Kern vehicle, which had minor damage, has since been returned, but Kern's checkbook and drivers' license are missing.