CHICAGO: An Ohio grandmother kidnapped Thursday allegedly by one of her grandsons and three other people was found safe this morning and the suspects arrested by Chicago police at an O’Hare-area hotel, authorities said.

The 75-year-old woman, originally from Somalia, and her four kidnappers were located at the O’Hare Holiday Inn after police found the kidnappers’ van there about 8:45 a.m., police said.

She had been kidnapped from in front of her Hilliard, Ohio, home about 3 p.m. Thursday by a grandson who lives in Seattle and three other people, said Hilliard Police Chief Doug Francis.

The motive for the kidnapping was not clear, but appeared to involve a family dispute, Francis said.

Charged in a warrant with kidnapping and apparently arrested at the Holiday Inn was Osman Muhidin, 26, of Seattle, according to a release from Hilliard police.

Although Francis would not confirm it, Chicago police said the suspects apparently were tracked via the signal from one of the suspect’s cell phones.

Hilliard police had issued a nationwide alert yesterday for the green Toyota Sienna minivan with Illinois license plates believed used in the kidnapping, Francis said.

The 2009 Toyota is registered to a rental agency, according to state records.

A relative had identified Muhidin as one of the kidnappers.

The grandmother’s ordeal began at 3 p.m. yesterday just as she was dropped off by a granddaughter at her home on Acacia Drive in Hilliard, a 28,000-resident suburb of Columbus, Ohio, Francis said.

Muhidin and two other men grabbed his grandmother as she stepped out of her granddaughter’s car, carried her to the minivan and pushed her in, Francis said.

The van then sped off, apparently driven by a fourth person, likely a woman who Chicago police said is among those in custody today, Francis said.

Police believed the victim “was in danger. She has some health issues, and she did not have her medication with her,” Francis said.

Her family has not shared many details about what type of family issues may have led to the kidnapping, Francis said.

Hilliard police believed the suspects were headed for Seattle, so they paid special attention to cities along Interstate 90 and Interstate 70, Francis said.

Chicago police were alerted to the possibility the suspects might be in the area and Jefferson Park District officers were able to arrest them and locate the victim, who was unharmed, this morning, police said.

The suspects were being questioned at the Jefferson Park District station this morning.

Source: Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2010.

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