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Couple accused of child abuse found at Universal Studios

Posted at 1:47 PM, Nov 29, 2012
and last updated 2012-11-29 13:59:56-05

PLAISTOW, N.H. (WHDH) - A mother and her boyfriend from Plaistow, New Hampshire wanted on child abuse charges were brought into custody in Orlando, Florida Wednesday.

Jessica Linscott and her boyfriend, Roland Dow, were arrested at the amusement park, Universal Studios around 6 p.m.

U.S. Marshals say they spotted the couple while they were watching a parade and arrested the two as they were walking back to the rides.

"The minute we laid eyes on them, we took them into custody. So there's no following them around or watching them all day long," U.S. Marshal David Charles said.

The couple spent two weeks on the run after dropping the woman's son off at a New Hampshire hospital with severe head injuries and burns.

Arrest warrants were filed for Linscott and her boyfriend not long after they dropped the toddler off at the hospital. That's when they disappeared.

In the weeks since, there have been possible sightings of the couple along the north shore, but nothing panned out.

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force received information Wednesday that the couple was in Orlando, and found Linscott and Dow enjoying themselves at the theme park -- a place meant for children -- adding insult to injury for a couple charged with child abuse.

Three-year-old James Nicholson is recovering at a New Hampshire hospital and his grandmother said earlier in the week the boy was in good spirits.

Linscott, 23, is accused of failing to get medical attention for her son and failing to protect him. Dow, 27, is charged with assault.

The couple will be arraigned in a Florida court Thursday morning.