FOWLER, N.Y. (AP) _ An investigator says a northern New York couple kidnapped two Amish sisters from their family farm stand with a plan to turn them into slaves but released them after becoming frightened by news reports.
St. Lawrence County Sherriff's Sgt. Brooks Bigwarfe says Nicole Vaisey admitted she and boyfriend Stephen Howells Jr. lured the 7-year-old and 12-year-old girls to their car with an offer to pet their dog and that Howells shoved them in.
Bigwarfe says she told him they shackled the girls and intended to turn them into slaves, but released them about 24 hours later after hearing news reports.
Fowler Justice Paul Lamson ruled Thursday there's reasonable cause to believe Vaisey committed felony kidnapping. He ordered her held without bail.
Defense attorney Bradford Riendeau says Vaisey was Howells' slave.
