A car theft in Clayton County quickly turned into a kidnapping case when a 2-month-old baby, who was inside the vehicle at the time, went missing. Following the incident, a 17-year-old suspect named Johnathan Johnson was apprehended by law enforcement after a chase. FOX5 Atlanta reported that the teen faces charges including motor vehicle theft and kidnapping.
The Clayton County Sheriff's Office indicated that the abduction occurred around 11:45 a.m. on Friday. The baby's mother briefly left her 2-month old in the car with the keys still inside to pick up food from Champion Wings and Fish. Upon exiting the restaurant, she witnessed her silver Acura TL being driven away by an individual she did not recognize, according to a statement obtained by FOX5 Atlanta. An immediate search commenced involving multiple agencies and an impending Levi's Call.
It was before a formal Levi's Call could be broadcasted that deputies spotted and pursued the stolen vehicle, which eventually crashed at a cemetery next to Mt. Zion Baptist Church. The driver — Johnson — attempted to flee but was later detained by Georgia State Patrol troopers. 11Alive reported that the initial sighting by deputies occurred as the vehicle made a turn in front of them from Southlake Parkway and Mt. Zion Road.
Although the chase concluded with the suspect's arrest, the whereabouts of the infant remained unknown for a brief period. Johnson informed investigators that he had left the baby behind a dumpster, but could not recall the exact location. After a search, the child was discovered in a wooded area behind a dumpster at the Tara Woods apartments, as per information from FOX5 Atlanta. Residents in the area told 11Alive's Erica Murphy that the child was still inside its car seat when it was found. Medics assessed the baby's condition before reuniting them with the mother. The suspect is expected to be formally booked into Clayton County Jail on the charges mentioned.
