COLUMBUS – A Columbus woman could be imprisoned for life if she is convicted of federal kidnapping charges for abducting two twin baby boys just before Christmas, prompting an Amber Alert that remained in effect for more than two days.
A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Nalah Jackson on two counts of kidnapping of a minor after she allegedly stole a car with 5-month-old boys inside outside a pizza store in the Short North on Dec. 19 and taking them across state lines, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker said.
Each count as charged is punishable by at least 20 years of incarceration and up to life in prison, Parker said.
“Jackson is currently in custody in Indiana and will be transported to the Southern District of Ohio to face her federal charges in U.S. District Court in Columbus. Those federal charges will supersede her current state charge of kidnapping,” Parker said.
According to the indictment, Jackson, 24, kidnapped Kyair and Kason Thomass late on the night of Dec. 19 when their mother left them in her car while she went into a Donato’s Pizza store at N. High Street and E. 1st Avenue, authorities said.
One of the boys was found early the next morning at the Dayton airport but the second one was not recovered until Dec. 22 in Indiana after Jackson was arrested.