A teenage suspect has been detained by the Memphis Police Department, charged with the kidnapping of a seven-year-old girl from her Memphis apartment. The incident first took place in the early morning hours of November 6, when the child was reportedly abducted right from her bed. Local authorities responded to the call at around 4 a.m. in the 3200 block of Johnson Avenue, as reported by Law&Crime.
According to the child's account, described as the suspect, wearing all-black clothing, took her to a basketball court within the apartment complex. It was there she managed to escape and return to her home. Her mother, recalling the state in which she found her daughter, said the girl had "water on her bonnet, her knees were scratched and she had grass between her toes." This statement was given in a WREG interview.
The suspect in question, 19-year-old Jeremiah Smith, was later captured on surveillance footage lurking at the back door of the same apartment on November 24. Smith was reportedly wearing similar clothing to what he had on the night of the abduction. His return to the scene led to a chance confrontation with a neighbor. According to Action News 5, the neighbor managed to guide Smith to a position where his face could be captured clearly by his surveillance cameras, helping to identify Smith to the police.
Smith, who also resides at the same apartment complex, was arrested after being positively identified in a suspect lineup. When police issued a warrant on December 27, Smith was booked the same day. The mother, facing the aftermath and the security of her family, is left with no option but to install cameras to keep a vigilant eye, given her inability to move from the residence. Smith's bond was initially set at $1 million, but was later reduced to $150,000, and is expected to appear in court on January 15.
