Pair of Tonopah residents arrested on kidnapping charge

Two Tonopah residents were arrested over the weekend after allegedly kidnapping a teenage Pahrump girl.

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office said Jason Klipple, 34, and Tammy Ehart, 40, were arrested after allegedly kidnapping the girl Friday.

Originally, deputies responded to the girl’s residence after she was reported missing when she didn’t show up after school, and was first thought to be a runaway.

After investigating the scene, deputies determined that the girl was kidnapped and the hunt for her and the suspects began.

The two suspects were in contact with the girl prior to the kidnapping on social media, and picked her up before she got to school Friday morning, police said. Deputies believe their original destination was Northern Nevada.

Police in Pahrump worked with authorities in Tonopah in a coordinated investigation, involving various agencies and resources to find the missing child and her alleged abductors.

Police attempted to contact Klipple several times unsuccessfully, but were eventually able to get a hold of Ehart via phone. She proceeded to give police false information, believed to be an attempt to throw off deputies about her whereabouts.

After realizing the investigation was closing in on them, the kidnappers were making their way back to Pahrump, when police were able to locate the van in Tonopah, with the missing child inside, police stated.

The motive remains unknown, but police said that Klipple falsely claimed to be the child’s biological father.

Police are following up several leads and said that both Klipple and Ehart are known to the child and her family.

In order to keep your children safe from being abducted police urge parents to monitor not only their kids’ personal activities, but their social media and internet interaction as well.

Klipple and Ehart were booked into the Nye County Detention Center and charged with several counts relating to the alleged kidnapping.

Ehart is being held on $230,640 bond on preliminary charges of kidnapping in the first degree, conspiracy kidnapping in the first degree, obstructing a police officer and using the ID of another to avoid prosecution.

Klipple is being held on $225,640 bond on preliminary charges of three counts including kidnapping in the first degree, conspiracy kidnapping in the first degree, and obstructing a police officer.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information pertaining to this case is urged to contact the Nye County Sheriff’s Office at 775-751-7000 or by e-mailing ncso_detectives@co.nye.nv.us, attention Detective Cory Fowles.