By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – An area man who kidnapped his daughter, fled the country and changed both their identities has pled guilty to all eight counts against him.
Arlen Dean Hill the Second faced an eight-count federal indictment that included international parental kidnapping and aggravated identity theft.
Hill kidnapped his daughter Taylor in 2002 and was arrested in New Zealand a year ago. Taylor's mother, Julie Coleman, says her 5-year-old daughter is adjusting well to life with her:
"She understands that I am her mother, she understands that she was away for
A while, and then that she's back. And she asks questions about that when she sees pictures," Coleman said. "Other than that, I don't know when she opens up, that's when we talk."
Hill will be sentenced in August. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 18 years in prison.