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.
