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Authorities Ask For Help Locating Missing Children In Mower County

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A multi-state search is on for a Minnesota mother on-the-run with her five children.

The BCA is trying to find 39-year-old Izetta Cooley. Investigators believe she has violated a court order to not have any contact with her children. There is an active warrant out for her arrest.

Her husband, Miguel Cooley, is in the Mower County Jail -- arrested on a murder charge stemming from a case in Fargo, North Dakota. WCCO's Jeff Wagner talked with investigators and got the latest developments.

"Our primary concern is to get all five of these children into protective custody," Sgt. Steve Sandvik with the Mower County Sheriff's Office said.

Sandvik says he's been working non-stop since late Saturday night, when investigators say Izetta Cooley fled Mower County with three of her children, and possibly two more.

"So we are very concerned, it's kind of a large evolving circumstance," Sandvik said.

The Mower County Sheriff's Office said its part in this investigation started late last month, when Miguel Cooley came down to Rose Creek with three of his children to visit relatives, whose lives would soon be turned upside down.

"This all kind of stemmed out of a homicide that had occurred in Fargo, North Dakota," Sandvik said.

Sgt. Sandvik says with US Marshals, they executed a search warrant on the home where Miguel was staying, and arrested him for the Fargo case.

The children were then left in protective custody with the same relatives. Days later, investigators say Izetta showed up to the house to take her kids.

"We don't know what her mindset is. We don't want to spur anything that would aggravate the situation further," Sandvik said.

Investigators say it's possible she went to North Dakota or South Dakota, where she has relatives.

"But that wouldn't rule out that she could be heading south into Iowa or east into Wisconsin," Sandvik said.

Izetta Cooley is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 180 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She is believed to be driving in a black 2007 Suzuki XL7 with the license plate 103-WJC. Investigators don't think she poses a threat to her children, but they're still hoping people will call 911 if they see the family or the vehicle.

Cooley Vehicle
(credit: BCA)

"And we're just very concerned for their well-being, their safety and the appearance that mom is now on the run so to speak with her children," Sandvik said.

If you know anything, you're asked to call the Mower County Sheriff's Office or 911.

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