“Nalah Jackson, I plead to you, please return Kason Thomas,” said Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “We thank you for returning Ky’air. You’ve already shown us you can do the right thing. You can return him to any safe location. … We’re begging you to please return Kason.”
Bryant added Jackson could call police at 614-645-4701 and they would pick up the infant “no questions asked.”
“Bringing him home safe is our number one priority,” the chief said.
Kason’s twin, Ky’air. was found around 4:15 a.m. by a passenger in the economy lot at the Dayton International Airport. Butler Twp. medics examined the boy, who appeared to be in good health, and an airport firefighter stayed with the baby until family arrived, a spokesperson from the airport said.
The infants were inside a four-door black 2010 Honda Accord when it was stolen Monday night. The car was taken around 9:45 p.m. after their mother walked into a Columbus Donatos Pizza at East First Avenue and North High Street and left the car running, according to an AMBER Alert.
The boys’ mother was reportedly picking up a DoorDash order when the car was stolen.
Donato’s workers told police a homeless woman, identified as Jackson, was inside the restaurant and left when the infants’ mother came in, Bryant said.
More than 60 Columbus officers are investigating this case, including 50 who were part of a grid search of Columbus that started around 10:17 p.m., according to Bryant. Investigators checked more a dozen addresses connected to Jackson in the Columbus area.
Columbus Deputy Chief Smith Weir said investigators faced a few obstacles identifying the car initially because it did not have a license plate and the victim had recently purchased it.
Despite first contacting Ohio State Highway Patrol at 11:45 p.m. Monday requesting an AMBER Alert, it wasn’t issued until 1:37 a.m., according to police.
“There was some back and forth with us talking to the state about what the requirements were,” Weir said. “Obviously it was a unique circumstance when there’s no license plate and additionally we were trying to identify the VIN, but at the end of the day we obviously pushed forward.”
Approximately three hours after the AMBER Alert was issued, Ky’air was found at the Dayton airport.
Authorities searched the airport and parking lot Tuesday morning, but there was no indication the suspect or Kason were there, said Linda Hughes, City of Dayton air service manager.
She said it appeared the boy was outside for fewer than 10 minutes before the passenger found him.
Credit: Marshall Gorby
Credit: Marshall Gorby
There’s no indication the person who left the infant in the parking lot went inside the terminal or remained at the airport, Hughes added.
Cameras in the airport parking lot reportedly captured the vehicle entering and leaving the parking lot.
Hughes noted the incident highlighted the importance of reporting anything that seemed out of place or suspicious.
“Certainly in the world we live in, if you see something, you must say something,” Hughes said.
She added the airport will continue to be on alert and keep an eye out for anything related to the investigation.
Around 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Huber Heights police contacted Columbus officers with video that possibly showed the suspect. The sighting was prior to Jackson leaving Ky’air at the airport.
Investigators do not know whether Jackson is still in the Dayton area or if she is still driving the Honda.
The car is missing its front bumper and has no license plate, according to Dayton police. The car has a bumper sticker that reads “Westside City Toys” on the back and the vehicle also has tinted windows.
The car had approximately a quarter tank of gas as well as $20 inside.
It’s not clear what led Jackson to take the car or two boys. Columbus police said there’s no indication Jackson knew the mother or infants.
Weir said the department considers Kasan to be in danger.
“This is a cry for help,” he said. “We are asking the community to come forward and help us locate this child.”
It’s also unclear why Jackson would drop off one child but not both.
“I think that’s a troubling aspect of this case,” Weir said. “It’s perplexing as to why that would be. We have to deal with what the facts are, and the facts we’re still looking for one child.”
Bryant also noted it’s possible Jackson left Kason somewhere else. She urged anyone who sees anything they think is related to the investigation to call police.
Anyone with information on the incident or on the whereabouts of Kasan or Jackson is urged to call 911, Columbus police at 614-645-4701 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS (8477).
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