Update: Abducted mother, four children found safe, suspect in custody

BRAINERD, Minn. (KVRR) – The Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office says a pregnant woman and her four children who were abducted at gunpoint early Friday from a residence near Brainerd have been found safe.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says 35-year-old Chad Aanerud was taken into custody in Morrison County.

Investigators say Aanerud abducted 33-year-old Nikkole Dobson and her four children from a residence in the 15000-block of Loerch Road, where Dobson and her children were staying around 1:50 a.m.

Aanerud, who was Dobson’s boyfriend, fired a rifle round into the ceiling of the residence and forced Dobson and her children to leave with him.

Aanerud is also a suspect in an earlier homicide and arson.