Mt. Carmel man holds children hostage in overnight standoff - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

A family member says it all started as a domestic dispute just before midnight Friday evening. Kelly Hannon and her boyfriend, Blake Cash, were arguing and fighting in their home. 

Hannon's brother, Billy Harms says he wasn't surprised when his wife received a call that the couple was fighting in their home near Walnut Street and Fourth Street. Their two young children were also inside. 

"They have their moments, I mean everybody does but they have their moments more than everybody else," Harms said.

 

Harms says by the time he called police they had already arrived and arrested Hannon.

He says that's when her boyfriend took the children, one two years old and other five months, and barricaded himself inside the home.

Illinois State Police and S.W.A.T were on scene nearly 12 hours negotiating with Cash.  Harms says he wasn't sure if Cash would actually hurt the children. 

"When he does get mean, he gets mean, but honestly I can't say yes or no because I don't know him that good. I would hope not, in anybody's circumstances like this I would hope they wouldn't hurt kids," Harms said. 

Harms says Hannon is a good person and mother.

"She had rough times back in the past and she still hasn't found that good road to go down yet, but hopefully one of these days she will because she is a good hearted person, she really is," he said. 

Family members say the stand-off ended just before 11:00 Sunday morning when Cash finally came out of the home. The children were unharmed and are staying with relatives.