Plattsmouth Police announced Monday that they are treating the disapearance of a mother and her son as a kidnapping.

Charlotte Schilling and her 10-year-old son Owen have been missing since last Thursday. Police say Charlotte bought a few items at Kohl's and then picked up her son early from school. They were last seen on surveillance video at a convienent store near Lake Manawa on Thursday.

On Friday, Police found Charlotte's car at the lake. The contents of her purse were dumped out but the cash was left behind, the purse itself was gone. They also found her cell phone with a dead battery.

About 30 officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department searched the area south of Lake Manawa to the Missouri River. The Plattsmouth Water Rescue Team used sonar equipment on the lake. Both searches turned up nothing.

Family say Charlotte may be struggling with depression and that she has been dealing with a lot of emotional issues lately. Still, they don't believe she would just leave and take Owen with her.

If they're out there I know that owen is safe i'm not worried about that. we just want them home, we miss them we love them, we're worried sick," said Nora Schilling, Charlotte's sister-in-law.

Police don't know why Charlotte may have left; however, they say they don't care. They says they are focusing on getting both Charlotte and her son home safetly.

If and when the two return home, Charlotte will most likely not be charged.

Posted May 13, 2012


A Plattsmouth family was not celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday. Instead they were searching for a mother and son and hoping to hear from them soon.

Channel 6 News spoke with the Schilling family about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of 11-year-old Owen and his mother, Charlotte. The pair have been missing since Thursday and their family is worried.

Lindsay Schilling says, "I'm trying to tell us and myself that it is just a vacation for them. They just wanted to get away and not be found."

Lindsay and Tyler Schilling agreed to talk with us about their missing mother and brother.

Charlotte took Owen out of his Wake Robin Elementary classroom between noon and 2pm on Thursday. Her car was found later at Lake Manawa. The contents of her purse were dumped out but the cash was left behind, the purse itself was gone.

The search for Charlotte and Owen will start in the Lake Manawa parking lot where authorities found their car. Police from Plattsmouth will be joined by officers from Council Bluffs and deputies from Pottawattamie County. If the situation warrants it the FBI could be called in the help search for the Schillings.

There are thickets to be searched and the lot where the car was found is near both Lake Manawa and the Missouri River.

For now the Schillings hope mom just needed a little getaway and will return with Owen when she is ready but the missing parts of the family are missed even more today.

Tyler Schilling says, "Especially on Mother's Day. We had a lot planned. She is the center of attention today so it's kind of hard on the whole family."

Charlotte and Owen have been missing three days now, officials hope someone knows were they are and calls the location in.

Anyone with information about Charlotte or Owen Schilling is encouraged to call Plattsmouth police at 402-296-3311.