13 WTHRSecond graders helping in kidnapping case

Second graders helping in kidnapping case

Anita Malichi/Eyewitness News

Bainbridge, Dec. 11 - Something smells in Bainbridge, population 800. There's a mystery cooking at the elementary school.

"Last seen in hallway wearing decorative icing and black buttons."

"Approximately two and a half to three feet tall."

"Scent freshly baked gingerbread."

What's missing are two gingerbread men.

Second grade teacher Katie Lewandowski made the missing men. "I came in in the morning and was getting ready to unlock my door and saw they were gone. Hanging on my mailbox was a ransom note."

The note read, "If you call the cops we will eat them."

Following the note was a picture of the two holding a newspaper, another with one's mouth taped.

"I truly I truly don't know who has them."

"I think it was the Grinch."

It has got Lewandowski's young class doing something children don't often do patiently, writing.

"I think Santa stole the gingerbread men."

"Or the baker made them come alive and they ran out to find a girlfriend, just kidding."

Joining the suspects Grinch and Santa are Frosty and Rudolph.

"He's one clever reindeer and he can just fly away."

Eyewitness News found a gingerbread house. Sources say the gingerbread men are somewhere near this building, but not for long.

Until their hopefully safe return the school principal says the children are learning how to put their ideas into writing.

"Bring them back now."

Maybe this is where a best-selling author will get his or her start.

Our source, who knows the kidnapper, expects the mystery will be solved late next week.