Twin baby abducted in Ohio found; police say suspect arrested in Indiana

Cole Behrens and Céilí Doyle, The Columbus Dispatch
·2 min read

The Thomas family's joyous screams rang throughout the cold Thursday night air, and across a Lowes parking lot in Whitehall, Ohio, as family and search party members got the Christmas miracle news.

Kason Thomas, a missing 5-month-old Columbus twin, had been found 175 miles away in Indianapolis.

He was found inside his mother's stolen 2010 Honda Accord at about 6:46 p.m. in the parking lot of a Papa John's pizza by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).

The child, who appeared in good health and was breathing normally, was still wearing the same brown onesie he had on when he was last seen Monday night. He was being taken to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis to be checked out as a precaution.

READ MORE: Infant twin Kason Thomas found; suspect in Columbus kidnapping arrested in Indiana

Minutes before the good news, family members were begging for anyone with information about the infant's location to come forward. Nalah T. Jackson, 24, whom Columbus police have charged with kidnapping Kason and his twin brother, Kyair, stole a running car from a Donatos Pizza in the Short North with the twins inside around 9:45 p.m. Monday night.

5-month-old Kason Thomas being held by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer after he was found at 6:46 p.m. Thursday inside his mother's stolen Honda Accord that had been left in the parking lot of a Papa John's pizza in Indianapolis.
5-month-old Kason Thomas being held by an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officer after he was found at 6:46 p.m. Thursday inside his mother's stolen Honda Accord that had been left in the parking lot of a Papa John's pizza in Indianapolis.

Two and a half days later, Jackson was arrested by IMPD around 2 p.m. on Thursday. But Kason was not with her.

Police allege Jackson had left Kyair Thomas in his car carrier seat with a quilt wrapped around him in a parking lot at Dayton International Airport where he was found between two vehicles about 4:15 a.m. Tuesday by a passerby.

Kidnapping suspect Nalah T. Jackson arrested in Indiana

Columbus police Deputy Chief Smith Weir reported at a late Thursday afternoon press conference that the police division had received more than 3,000 tips about the kidnapped twins.

Jackson was charged with two counts of kidnapping on Tuesday, and likely faces additional charges, including child endangerment and vehicle theft.

Jackson's arrest was the result of tips received by Columbus police and police urging a tipster to call 911 in Indianapolis. Police there stopped Jackson and took her into custody. Fingerprints confirmed Jackson's identity.

Columbus police had searched for Kason in Columbus, the Dayton area, and Indianapolis.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Baby Kason Thomas found; suspect in Columbus kidnapping arrested