Amber Alert Child Recovered from Fife Motel, Parents Charged

Today, Pierce County Prosecutor Mark Lindquist charged Bryndi Gibson and Beau Blasius with custodial interference in the first degree and unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle after the two fled Montana with 12 month old Brayden Blasius. 

On Sunday morning, an Amber Alert tip alerted authorities to the location of a stolen pick-up truck, on the 5700 block of 23rd Street East, at the Emerald Park Apartments. Fife Police Department officers were able to safely recover the one year-old child, who was in the pickup and unharmed.  The officers also arrested the defendants--his parents.

"This is a great example of the Amber Alert system at work," said Prosecutor Mark Lindquist.  "Thanks to a tip from the public, the police were able to safely recover the child before any harm came to him."

On April 27, Brayden was living with his paternal grandparents, Rodney and Karen Blasius, in Flathead County, Montana. The couple had been designated to care for Brayden after the State of Montana had suspended Bryndi Gibson and Beau Blasius' parental rights as biological parents and declared Brayden a ward of the State of Montana.

At about 8:45 p.m., Beau arrived at the his parents' home and demanded to take Brayden with him. The couple refused to give him the child and he left.  Later that evening, Beau broke into the house, took Brayden out of his crib and fled, according to police.

Flathead County Sheriff's deputies issued an Amber Alert and soon learned the defendants had taken a white 1994 Chevrolet pick-up truck from its owner in Montana. This information was added to the Amber Alert. 

On the morning of April 28, Fife Police received an anonymous tip that the vehicle referred to in the Amber Alert was parked at the Emerald Park Apartments. 

Both Bryndi Gibson and Beau Blasius were arraigned today in Pierce County Superior Court. They pleaded not guilty, Blasius' bail was set at $50,000, and Gibson's bail was set at $100,000.

The defendants are also facing burglary, kidnapping and theft of motor vehicle charges in Montana, and will be extradited to Flathead County, Montana after the Pierce County cases conclude.

On Sunday, many residents who signed up for the Pierce County Alert System received a Washington State Patrol Amber Alert message at 3:30 a.m. Pierce County responded to the issue after receiveing a number of complaints about the timing of the alert and that they did not send this message, as it is part of the new Wireless Emergency Alert System.