A missing Rankin County teenager has returned home safe

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – According to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, 16-year-old John Michael Jones is safe in his Brandon home after he was lured to meet someone down the road from his home and kidnapped.

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Office received a report of Jones missing around 8 a.m. Sunday.

The office immediately began an investigation and soon contacted the Mississippi State Bureau of Investigation, which issued a purple alert.

A purple alert is issued when an incident does not meet the criteria for a blue, silver, or amber alert.

“At that time, we were not aware of any facts or information related to the abduction, and in order for an Amber Alert to be issued, there had to be an abduction, some act of violence where the child was being transported from one place to another.” said Tyler Burnell, an investigator with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.

The department initially believed it was the result of the teenager’s struggles with mental health, based on information from Jones’ family.

“He was suffering from a lot of depression, he was having a lot of bad days grieving for his loved ones who had passed away,” Burnell said.

When they discovered that Jones’ cell phone and debit card had not been used, the sheriff’s office contacted the Mississippi attorney general’s office.

Surveillance video led authorities to Caleb James Kennedy of Arkansas. Cannady’s vehicle, a 2015 Dodge Charger with an Arkansas license plate, was issued a Be Careful permit.

Arkansas State Police located and arrested a 34-year-old man at his home where they found Jones.

“He drove seven hours from his home in Arkansas to pick up this young man at or near his home in Brandon and then drove him seven hours back to the state of Arkansas,” Burnell said.

Authorities say Jones and Kennady communicated online before Kennady convinced Jones to meet with him.

“It took us a little over 24 hours to get the report and then find him, get him back with the help of the Arkansas State Police and then of course arrest Mr. Kennedy,” Burnell said. “Very lucky in cooperation. It was just huge.”

Burnell says anything involving children is the department’s top priority, and in Rankin County most, if not all, missing children are found.

“We always want to make sure the kids are safe, and if they’re not, we’ll move heaven and earth to try and find them,” he said.

Local law enforcement, state and out-of-state law enforcement cooperated in the investigation, but a big thank you to the public as well. Attorney General Lynn Fitch released a statement to WLBT 3 On Your Side.

“Such cases emphasize the importance of interdepartmental cooperation not only within the state, but also outside of it. Many cases start with tips from ordinary people who have their eyes open and are ready to take action that can save lives. Our office was honored to play even a small role in the high-profile investigation that led to the safe return of John Michael Jones.”

Kennady faces criminal charges in Rankin County in connection with Jones’ disappearance, as well as other potential charges in Arkansas.

Jones is at home with his family and undergoing a mental and physical evaluation.

Want more WLBT news? Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

See a spelling or grammar mistake in our story? Please click here to report this and include the title of the article in your email.