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Kidnapped Columbus boy found in Indianapolis; suspect arrested

Columbus Division of Police

Acting on a tip from a 9-1-1 call, Indianapolis police recovered a missing Columbus boy Thursday afternoon, and have his alleged kidnapper into custody.

At a press conference this afternoon, Columbus Chief Elaine Bryant announced the Indianapolis police had arrested 24-year old Nalah Jackson, who faces two counts of kidnapping, at 2pm. At the time, 5-month old Kason Thomas was still missing, and the FBI had issued a $10,000 reward.

By 7:30 pm, Columbus Police issued a statement that the boy had been recovered safely near a pizza shop, and was being taken to a nearby hospital to be checked out. Reportedly the child was found in the same reported stolen Honda and wearing his same clothes.

Three Columbus detectives - part of a 12-person team - were on the way to Indianapolis. No other details were released.

Kason and his twin brother Kyair were in their mother's car when it was taken from a Short North restaurant Monday night. The mother had left the car running as she went inside to pick up a Door Dash order.

Police began to search the neighborhood within 20 minutes of the reported kidnapping, but it took nearly four hours to issue a statewide AMBER alert. Kyair Thomas was found early Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Dayton International Airport. By that evening, the FBI had become involved, and a "be on the lookout" alert had been issued in Indiana and four other neighboring states.

A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.