Child sex abuse fugitives caught in Vancouver, WA

VANCOUVER, Wash. — Three Cleveland County fugitives wanted on charges relating to a child sexual abuse case have been arrested in Vancouver, Wash.

Joseph Michael Siford, 40, and his wife, Danyale Bernice Siford, 34, both of Moore, as well as Michelle Danae Walker, 43, of Noble were arrested by U.S. Marshals Tuesday night at the Riverside Motel in Vancouver.

Officials there had been provided photos of the suspects and their vehicle description; a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup belonging to the Sifords, authorities said.

“They conducted surveillance and watched the individuals, all three suspects, exit the hotel, get into the vehicle and take off, at which point they conducted a traffic stop and took them down without incident,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Callen Stephens said Wednesday in Norman.

Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Spokesperson Meghan McCormick said the last time the three suspects were seen in Cleveland County was Aug. 16.

That’s when they were at their respective homes in Moore and Noble as authorities were executing search warrants, McCormick said.

The allegations involve sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl at their homes and the complaints against them range from first-degree rape to production of child pornography.

Twelve days after their homes were searched, all three were found in Vancouver.

Officials said last week that it was Walker who introduced the teenage girl to the Sifords, who then allegedly befriended the girl and engaged in sexual contact with her and Walker several times.

One encounter between Joe Siford and the girl was allegedly taped.

McCormick said the Sifords resigned from their jobs via email on Aug. 19 and said they were not returning to Moore.

On Aug. 23, Walker’s vehicle was found abandoned at a Walmart in Moore.

McCormick did not say why the suspects traveled to Vancouver but said family and friends of the suspects told U.S. Marshals that Walker had traveled to Washington before.

McCormick did not say how the teenage victim knew the suspects.

Extradition back to Oklahoma is pending.

The victim’s family told News Channel 4 they were “ecstatic” about the suspects’ capture but would not comment further.