Oklahoma City father credits TV drama with children's recovery

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma man is reunited with his children after the viewer of a television drama tipped authorities to the children's whereabouts.<br/><br/>Nick Candela flew to New York Monday

Monday, July 25th 2005, 11:39 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma man is reunited with his children after the viewer of a television drama tipped authorities to the children's whereabouts.

Nick Candela flew to New York Monday after FBI agents arrested his estranged wife, Marcia, in Tuckahoe, New York, and took 8-year-old Nicholas and 7-year-old Gioannah into protective custody.

Candela told KWTV News 9 that he feared his first meeting with the children would be tense, but said they warmed up to him after a few minutes.

Candela credits the CBS television program "Without a Trace" with a break in the case.

The show aired a brief missing child profile of Nicholas on Thursday and had planned one on his sister this week. Candela had appeared on NEWS Nine the day after the segment aired.

A state child-stealing arrest warrant was issued against Marcia Candela on November 19th, 2003. A federal unlawful-flight-to-avoid-prosecution arrest warrant was issued in June 2004 but officials say it will be dropped in favor of the state prosecution.