Mother charged with kidnapping her 2 children who were reported missing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The biological mother of two children who were reported missing Thursday in Buffalo before being safely located has been charged with kidnapping, the Buffalo Police Department announced.

Police said Jennie Johnson, 41, is facing a slew of charges after her two children, 8-year-old Edward Hale Jr. and 10-year-old Eiania Hale, were observed entering a tan Chevy Impala around 4 p.m. Thursday on Sunnyside Place.

The children’s legal guardian reported them missing around 6:30 p.m. Johnson has an order of protection against her that prevents her from making any contact with the children.

Video was released by police Friday that appeared to show the children entering the same Impala around 6:30 p.m. Thursday on Benzinger Street in the area where Johnson resides.

Buffalo police announced around 5 p.m. Friday that the children were located safe.

Johnson was charged with:

• Second-degree kidnapping
• Second-degree custodial interference
• Two counts of endangering the welfare of a child
• Two counts of second-degree criminal contempt

The investigation into the alleged kidnapping remains ongoing, and potential other arrests are pending, according to police.

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo native who joined the News 4 team in 2022. You can find more of his work here .