On October 5, 2020, a serious and rapidly evolving incident unfolded in Ottumwa when what began as a reported burglary quickly escalated into a child abduction. Police were dispatched to a residence in the 1500 block of Albia Road after receiving a call that an intruder had entered the home. During that same call, it was reported that a toddler—under the age of two—had been taken from inside the residence, immediately raising the urgency of the situation and prompting a high-priority response from law enforcement.
According to authorities, the suspect, Joseph Michael Agan, age 35, had allegedly entered the home unlawfully and removed the child. Given the victim’s very young age, the situation was considered critical, with officers treating it as both a burglary and an active kidnapping. Cases involving infants and toddlers are especially time-sensitive, and officers acted quickly to locate both the suspect and the child.
Within approximately nine minutes of the initial dispatch, officers were able to locate Agan and the child at the Southern Iowa Mental Health Center. The child was safely recovered, and authorities were able to take the suspect into custody without further harm reported to the victim.
