Ohio police urge alleged kidnapper to return baby Kason Thomass

() — The search for a 5-month-old boy entered its fourth day Thursday, and investigators in Columbus, Ohio, continue to plead with his alleged kidnapper to return the child.

The baby and his twin, Kason and Kyair Thomass, were inside a black 2010 Honda Accord Monday night as their mother picked up an order from a restaurant while working as a DoorDash driver.

The mother, Wilhelmina Barnett, left the restaurant to find the car missing, along with her twins. Kyair was found abandoned near the Dayton International Airport around 4:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Kason and Kyair Thomass. Credit: Columbus Ohio Police

Kason is still missing since Thursday morning.

This Wednesday, the suspect identified as Nalah Jackson, 24, was charged with two felony counts of kidnapping. Jackson, who police believe she took the Honda with the twins from outside the restaurant, has also not been found.

“Nalah Jackson, please return Kason Thomass to us. We thank you for returning Kyair. You have already shown us that you can do the right thing. You can return him to any safe place,” Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant said. , during a press conference on Tuesday.

After the car was stolen, Jackson was seen on cameras with the vehicle at a Huber Heights gas station, where she asked an employee for money, according to investigators. The police have released surveillance images of Jackson at the gas station and asked the public to call if they saw her, the child or the Honda.

Barnett and other family members searched the entire Dayton area for Kason Tuesday, including the gas station, he told WSYX, affiliate.

“I miss my kids. I miss them being together and their smile,” she told WSYX.

She said she is worried about her son’s safety and whether he is being fed.

“Kason loves to eat and that’s why I’m so worried. I know he’s freaking out. He eats so fast. He eats in 3-5 minutes,” Barnett said.

The alleged kidnapper was last seen at the airport, according to police.

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

The vehicle has a torn Ohio license plate sticker on the rear bumper and a white one that reads “Westside City Toys”.

Authorities said the car is believed to have been in a previous accident and has purple paint transfer and damage on its left side.

The last confirmed sighting of Jackson was at the airport, Columbus Police Deputy Chief Smith Weir said. There have been no confirmed sightings of Kason so far.

Investigators obtained surveillance video from the airport showing Jackson asking people to let him use their phone, Weir said. Police were able to contact some of those people, he added.

The vehicle Jackson is suspected of stealing was recently purchased and had no license plate and its VIN number was not registered, making it difficult to track, Weir said.

“We don’t have any sightings and that’s what frustrates us. This car has to be somewhere. This person has to be somewhere and they’re with a 5-month-old baby, so if people see something that looks out of Normally, we ask them to give us clues. We want to bring this baby home,” Columbus First Deputy Police Chief LaShanna Potts said Wednesday.

The twins’ grandmother, LaFonda Thomass, prayed for Kason’s return during a vigil Wednesday.

“If you look at it and see something, you see a beautiful little boy longing for his mother,” he said. “We beg you, please, please do the right thing and bring my baby home.”

— Amanda Musa, Caroll Alvarado and Tanika Gray contributed to this report.