SOUTHAVEN, Miss — UPDATE 12/17/2020 - Jeremy Fitzgerald, 34, and Turliscea Turner, 29, both of Memphis, Tennessee, have been federally charged in a criminal complaint with kidnapping a two-year-old boy whom they later abandoned at a Goodwill Store in Southaven, Mississippi. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the kidnapping charge in the federal complaint today.
According to information presented in the complaint, Fitzgerald offered to have Turner, posing as Fitzgerald's sister, babysit the child while Fitzgerald and the child's mother went to Nashville, Tennessee overnight on December 13, 2020. Turner agreed to watch and keep the child with her overnight. While Fitzgerald and the child's mother were in Nashville, Fitzgerald demanded that the child's mother work for him as a prostitute. When she refused, Fitzgerald left her in Nashville. He did not answer her repeated telephone calls.
Fitzgerald did, however, speak to the child's aunt. In that conversation, Fitzgerald demanded money for the return of the child. Turner was aware that Fitzgerald had demanded money in exchange for the child's return.
The next morning, Fitzgerald, Turner, and an unknown subject drove and transported the child across a state boundary from Memphis to Southaven, Mississippi. When they stopped at a gas station, Fitzgerald took the child out of the car to a nearby Goodwill store and abandoned him there. Turner went into the gas station; she knew that the child had been left at the Goodwill store.
Southaven Task Force Officers recovered surveillance video that showed the maroon vehicle that Fitzgerald and Turner had driven to Southaven with the child. The suspect vehicle was observed on Germantown Parkway in Shelby County on the afternoon of
December 14, 2020. When law enforcement responded to the area, Fitzgerald crashed the vehicle, and was later transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. Deputies found Turner inside a nearby Kroger, wearing the same clothing as in the surveillance video. Both subjects were taken into custody without further incident.
If convicted of kidnapping in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201, the defendants each face a possible sentence of 20 years and up to life in federal prison, 5 years to life of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment against the defendants, where additional federal charges may be added.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and convicted through due process of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Southaven Police Department are continuing to investigate this case.
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UPDATE: According to Southaven Police, a suspect related to the case has been taken into custody at 3:30pm.
This is still an ongoing investigation and if anyone knows any information that would be helpful, they are encouraged to call the Southaven Police Department at 662-393-8652.
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Southaven police have identified the child and he is now in the care of Mississippi Child Services. Police are following up on leads for the two suspects and tips concerning this case. If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of them or the vehicle, we are still seeking information.
This is a ongoing investigation.
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Southaven police have released pictures captured on surveillance near the Goodwill where the 2-year-old boy was abandoned Monday.
The images show a man and a woman who are both believed to be associated with this incident. There is also a picture of the vehicle they were driving when the child was left.
Toddler abandoned at Mid-South Goodwill
If you recognize either person, the vehicle they are driving or this child, please call the Southaven Police Department at 662-393-8652 or email here.
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Southaven police need your help identifying a toddler who was abandoned at Goodwill Monday morning.
According to SPD, a boy, approximately 2-years-old was dropped off at the Goodwill at 57 Stateline Road East in Southaven around 9:40 a.m.
The suspect, a light-skinned man wearing black jogging pants and a black cowboy hat, dropped the child off with a plastic bag containing a change of clothes and a note.
The suspect was last seen leaving on foot and has not been located.
The child is unable to give his name, his parent's names or relatives.
If you recognize the child or have any information that will help investigators, call the Southaven Police Department at 662-393-8652 or email here.