FERGUS FALLS, Minn. -- The family of a woman who was abducted from her home is thanking law enforcement and the community for helping in her safe return.
On Sunday afternoon, Amber Simonson, 34, was at her home in rural Fergus Falls with her four kids when a man came through a basement window. According to her aunt, Lori Kugler, the suspect was wearing a mask and holding a shotgun.
Simonson's kids are 10, 8, 5 and the youngest will turn 2-years-old soon. According to Kugler, the suspect confronted two of her kids in the living room and asked where their mother was in the house. The Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office says he then forcibly took Simonson from her house and left with her in his 2001 silver Chevy S-10 pick-up truck.
Kugler says the two older boys went to the window to catch the vehicle description.
"I told them they're both heroes because they did exactly what they should've done," Kugler said.
The kids called their dad who then called 911.
Kugler said the suspect had stopped by Simonson's home the night before, asking to use their phone because he needed gas. He was also spotted at her church that Sunday.
According to Lt. Keith Van Dyke with the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office, a Pelican Rapids firefighter spotted the vehicle off of Co. Highway 24 east of Erhard about two hours after her abduction.
"He was able to keep track of the vehicle until law enforcement could get close and that led into a high-speed chase," Lt. Van Dyke explained.
The high-speed chase took them through the city of Pelican Rapids and eventually southbound on State Hwy. 59. Officers and deputies were able to place some tire deflation devices and successfully deflate some of his tires. The suspect's vehicle eventually got stuck in a field.
Shots were fired during the end of the pursuit but Lt. Van Dyke would not say who fired as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is now investigating the incident. No one was injured and deputies arrested the suspect. He is being held in the Otter Tail County Jail on a possible kidnapping charge and other felonies.
Simonson was in the vehicle during the pursuit and was then taken to a nearby hospital.
Kugler recalled hearing her niece's voice for the first time after the abduction, saying, "I answered Brenda's phone and she said, 'Mom?' And I said, 'No, this is Lori. Is this Amber?' And she said, 'Yes, I'm okay.' I fell on the couch and I said, 'Brenda, please come.'"
Multiple law enforcement agencies assisted in the search for Simonson, as well as community members.
Jared Nordick of Rothsay doesn't know Simonson or her family but he decided to drive around looking for the suspect vehicle after hearing about her disappearance. He posted his experience to Facebook. Nordick was south of Erhard when he ran into Simonson's father.
"I said, 'Let's just wait it out here and we'll find a deputy for you. And he said, 'Well I really thank you. I just need someone to talk to,'" Nordick recalled.
Nordick was able to flag down an officer who confirmed that Simonson was found safe.
"I had the touching moment to experience a father and daughter get reunited," Nordick said in his Facebook video.
Kugler added, "I talked to her parents this afternoon and they asked that I thank the whole community... the whole world. We had prayers from all over the world."
KARE 11 typically does not name suspects until they have been charged. Court records show the suspect was sentenced in 2008 for kidnapping and assault. According to Lt. Van Dyke, he is also a registered level three sex offender.
The 39-year-old suspect from Pelican Rapids is expected to appear in court Tuesday.