Search intensifies for 5-month-old Ohio infant as twin is found after 'child abuser' abducted them
If you or anyone you know suspects child abuse, you are urged to immediately call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
COLUMBUS, OHIO: A desperate police search is underway to locate a missing five-month-old baby boy, who was abducted with his twin when a child abuser reportedly stole their mother’s car on Monday, December 19. Police have located Kyair Thomas in an airport parking lot but they are still searching for his brother, Kason.
Thomas and Kason, were inside their mother Wilhelmina Barnett’s black 2010 Honda Accord at 9.45 pm when she went inside Donatos Pizza in Columbus to collect a Door Dash order. Barnett then turned around and saw her vehicle with two of her sons inside, was missing. Officers arrived on the scene minutes after receiving a call from the restaurant. The 911 call heard Barnett say. "Somebody just stole my car and my babies are in there. I was just right here and all I was doing was just grabbing this pizza. I was right here, I didn't even go inside the building," per The Daily Mail.
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An Amber alert was issued for the missing infants at 1.37 a.m. on Tuesday December 20, almost four hours after the abduction occurred. Authorities now reportedly believed that the vehicle with the infants was allegedly stolen by a known child abuser named Nalah Jackson, who was present at the pizza place when Barnett arrived there. "Once on scene, employees of Donatos stated a homeless female, Jackson, was in the restaurant and left when the victim walked in," Columbus police Chief Elaine Bryant reportedly said in a conference. She added that Jackson got into the vehicle after Barnett left and drove off with the twins.
WATCH LIVE: @ColumbusPolice, @OSHP, @FBI, and other law enforcement agencies are providing an update on the #AmberAlert for Kason Thomass https://t.co/VOfBb7KG9W pic.twitter.com/LL6zUPmmv3
— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) December 21, 2022
Police also found out that Jackson passed through Dayton, which is where Kyair was found. He was spotted by a passerby at around 5 am in Dayton International Airport’s parking lot. Bryant reportedly said that the car had been spotted at a gas station near Dayton and released surveillance images of the car. Investigators are now trying to find cameras positioned at better angles to see how Jackson returned Kyair at the airport.
Investigators are releasing new photos of the stolen 2010 Honda Accord the suspect, Nalah Jackson, is suspected to be driving. That vehicle was taken from outside a Donatos in the Short North. These photos show the ripped temp tag and a bumper sticker that says Westside Toys. pic.twitter.com/1JvoMeL8kS
— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) December 21, 2022
According to a report by Daily Mail, Jackson has a criminal history and had been charged with abusing her own child in June 2021. She reportedly pleaded guilty to child endangerment charges after her 11-month-old child fell down a staircase. She was sentenced to 13 days in prison and placed on probation for two years.
NEW PHOTOS OF AMBER ALERT SUSPECT
— Columbus Ohio Police (@ColumbusPolice) December 20, 2022
The search continues for Kason Thomass, who was in his mother’s car, which was stolen in the Short North last night. The suspect, Nalah Jackson, was later captured on video at a gas station in Huber Heights where she asked an employee for money. pic.twitter.com/baipObzCCK
The police department has made an urgent plea to Jackson to return the missing infant. "Nalah Jackson, I plead to you, please return Kason Thomas," Bryant said, urging the woman to drop the baby off at a fire station, hospital or anywhere safe. "We are begging you to please return Kason. We can even pick him up," Bryant said, adding, "Bringing him home safe is our number one priority."