A now 5-year-old girl who was kidnapped by her mother and stepfather more than a year ago could be in the Harrison area, and authorities in Missouri and Clare County continue to search for the three.
Elizabeth Faith Askew and Devon Askew were named in an arrest warrant for child abduction Oct. 25, 2023 in Macon County after allegedly kidnapping Priscilla Lozuaway, who was 4 at the time.
Police in Macon County believe the Askews relocated to Michigan, possibly the Harrison area in the central part of the state, according to reports in the Moberly Monitor Index in Moberly, Mo.
Clare County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Dave Aldrich said Wednesday that searches of multiple homes for the three have been unsuccessful.
Aldrich confirmed that the Macon County Sheriff’s Office reached out for assistance, and that officers have investigated calls for possible sightings but could not confirm any.
In a probable cause statement and warrant request in Macon County Circuit Court, police said Priscilla’s father, Christopher Lozuaway, had not seen his daughter since June 1, 2023, and Macon County Sheriff’s deputies were unable to locate the three during a child wellness check at the Askew’s home in Atlanta, Mo., according to court records.
Police questioned Elizabeth Askew’s mother, who reportedly gave vague answers and told officers the three left the state on vacation, according to court documents.
Police questioned others, who said the Askews left the state with Priscilla, and left their phones behind, and nobody could tell them where they went, according to court documents.
Faith Askew failed to show up for a hearing Oct. 2, 2023, but her attorney was there and asked to be removed from the case without giving a reason, according to the probable cause statement.
A judge issued a show cause order but authorities could not located the Askews, who also failed to appear at another hearing Oct. 17 because police could not locate them, according to court records.
Authorities also said in court documents that there had been an ongoing custody battle between Lozuaway and Elizabeth Askew.
Macon County Prosecutor Joshua Meisner filed child abduction charges against Elizabeth Askew Oct. 25, 2023.
Elizabeth Askew failed to appear in court multiple times after Priscilla disappeared, and her mother, Constant Faith Christophel, pleaded the Fifth Amendment in court, refusing to answer questions about the child’s welfare, according to the Moberly Monitor Index.
That resulted in a judge giving Christopher Lozuaway sole custody of Priscilla, according to the Moberly Monitor Index, which reported that Elizabeth Askew’s parents sold their family farm in Missouri and moved to Harrison.
Christopher Lozuaway is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to Priscilla being located.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Macon County Sheriff’s Office at (660) 385‐2062, or the Clare County Sheriff’s Office at (989) 539-7166.
(Megan Pullyard of the Moberly Monitor Index contributed to this report).
