Nalah Jackson, a 26-year-old woman from Ohio, has been sentenced to over 23 years in federal prison for the December 2022 kidnapping of twin 5-month-old boys. According to WBNS, Jackson was accused of abducting the infants, Kason and Kyair Thomas, from a vehicle in the Short North area of Columbus. At the same time, their mother picked up a DoorDash order inside a Donatos Pizza. Jackson, who had initially entered a not-guilty plea, later accepted a plea agreement, admitting to the crimes.
Details from WLWT indicate that, later in their investigation, two women recovered Jackson's abandoned vehicle. They subsequently resumed the search for a missing infant based on a bus route left in their car by Jackson, ultimately leading them to the discovery of Kason in a vehicle matching the description they received. He was found alive but suffering from several health issues due to prolonged neglect. One of the twins, Ky'air, unfortunately, passed away in January 2023 with an autopsy citing sudden unexplained infant death as the cause.
During sentencing, Jackson expressed remorse for her actions. "I do deserve to go to prison," Jackson stated in court, as reported by WBNS. She admitted to taking a large dose of meth at the time of the abduction and voiced her apologies to the family, acknowledging the pain she caused.
U.S. District Judge Michael Watson, rejecting an initial 20-year plea deal, ultimately handed down a sentence of 23 years and four months. He made recommendations for Jackson to seek both mental health and substance abuse counseling during and after her incarceration. Before receiving her sentence, Jackson claimed she did not see the twins in the backseat, asserting, "If I would have seen those babies in the back seat, I wouldn't have taken that car," according to The Dispatch. She has also been asked to register as a sex offender following adjustments to her plea deal by a federal court.
