Three Arrested in Cross-State Child Custody Case

GLEN FLORA, Wis. — Authorities arrested three individuals in a multi-state investigation involving a missing child from Kossuth County, Iowa.

On January 19, 2026, the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office executed a warrant at N5069 Hwy 73 in the Town of Richland, Glen Flora. Emil Roth, 59 (DOB 04/15/1966), and Audrey Roth, 59 (DOB 06/10/1966), were taken into custody for interfering with parental custody and party to a crime.

The child’s father, Douglas Roth, 33 (DOB 03/11/1992), was arrested the same day in Taylor County on a Kossuth County, Iowa, warrant for felony kidnapping.

The case began in November 2025 when Rusk County received a report of the missing child, believed to be with the father in Wisconsin. The child was located during the operation.

Agencies involved included Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office (Iowa), Barron/Rusk Emergency Response Team, Wisconsin Joint Tactical Team, Wisconsin DOJ Division of Criminal Investigation, Rusk County DHHS Child Services, Medford Police Department, and Taylor County Sheriff’s Office.

No further details on charges, court appearances, or the child’s current status were immediately available. The investigation remains ongoing.

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USPS Postmark Rule Takes Effect, Prompting Guidance from Sen. Grassley

WASHINGTON – A new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule, effective December 24, 2025, clarifies that machine-applied postmarks reflect the date of first processing at a facility, not necessarily the date mail is deposited. This stems from the Delivering for America Plan’s network changes, including Regional Transportation Optimization, which can delay postmarking by one or more days.

The change affects time-sensitive mail like absentee ballots, tax filings, Medicare/Medicaid documents, and IRS submissions, where postmark dates determine timeliness.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) issued guidance to Iowans, noting concerns from constituents. USPS offers three options for proof of mailing date:

•  Free manual postmark: Request at a post office counter when handing over mail.

•  Postage Validation Imprint: Via certified or registered mail for electronic verification.

•  Certificate of Mailing: Purchased record of acceptance date.

For delayed, missing, or stolen mail, Grassley recommends contacting local postmasters via https://tools.usps.com/locations/. Report theft or policy violations to the USPS Office of Inspector General hotline at https://www.uspsoig.gov/hotline or U.S. Postal Inspection Service at https://www.uspis.gov/report.

Grassley pledged continued advocacy for reliable USPS service vital to Iowans.

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