Third person charged in hospital abduction case

CHICAGO (AP) - A third family member has been charged after a 5-year-old boy was taken from the St. Louis hospital where he's on a heart transplant list.

St. Louis prosecutors charged Heather Minton with kidnapping, interfering with custody and endangering the welfare of a child.

Her brother, Jeffrey Stone, is the child's father. Stone and Minton's mother, Rhonda Marie Matthews, face the same charges.

All three are jailed in Chicago on $1 million bond. The Chicago Sun-Times reports they waived extradition Thursday. They don't have listed attorneys.

Authorities say the trio took Porter Stone from St. Louis Children's Hospital on Tuesday, soon after he was discharged following evaluation for a transplant. Police found them Wednesday in a motel near Chicago.

Doctors worried because Porter requires medicine and had a limited supply.

Posted earlier at 9:33 a.m. Thursday, April 26, 2012:

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A third person faces charges for allegedly kidnapping a 5-year-old boy from the St. Louis hospital where he is on a heart transplant list.

St. Louis prosecutors late Wednesday charged Heather Minton with kidnapping, interfering with custody and endangering the welfare of a child. She is the sister if Jeffrey Stone, the father of the child. Stone and their mother, Rhonda Marie Matthews, face the same charges. All three are jailed on $1 million bond and do not have listed attorneys.

Authorities say the trio took Porter Stone from St. Louis Children's Hospital Tuesday, soon after he was discharged following evaluation for a transplant. Police found them early Wednesday in a motel room near Chicago.

Doctors worried because Porter requires medicine and had only enough for a day or two.