MANKATO, MN (KMHL) — 33-year-old Xia Xiang Conchita Plunkett (address unknown) faces felony counts of 1st-degree burglary and deprivation of custody of a minor in violation of a court order when she entered a Mankato residence and took a child that was not permitted to be in her custody, according to charges filed last week.
Police say that shortly before 10:30 PM on December 6th, Plunkett went to a home on 6th Street and banged on an exterior door, before walking inside the home without permission. According to witness statements, Plunkett approached the boy and said something to him, which caused him to stiffen up and look fearful. Plunkett then got aggressive and yelled at the boy to hurry up.
A statewide alert was issued for the SUV Plunkett was seen driving with the boy from the home. Law enforcement officials located Plunkett’s vehicle near the Rice and Scott County Line. Police used a high-risk tactical stop and swarmed Plunkett’s vehicle.
According to the criminal complaint, Plunkett refused to get out of the vehicle. The highway was closed while police negotiated with Plunkett via text message. She confessed to no longer having custody of the child and surrendered to law enforcement just before 1:30 AM on December 7th.
The boy was unharmed.
According to the complaint, Plunkett lost custody of the child last year in July. The boy was adopted in January of 2022 by a family member. However, the Waseca County Court found the child was no longer safe in the care of the relative on December 2nd and was placed in foster care at the Mankato home where he was taken by Plunkett.
Plunkett is believed to be homeless in Minneapolis, according to the complaint, which also lists her city as Waseca, with no permanent address.