Tennessee Man Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping of 7-Year-Old from Her Bed

A 19-year-old man from Tennessee is charged with especially aggravated kidnapping after allegedly abducting a 7-year-old girl from her bed.

Tennessee Man Accused of Attempted Abduction of 7-Year-Old Girl from Her Home

A 19-year-old Tennessee man faces charges of especially aggravated kidnapping after allegedly abducting a 7-year-old girl from her bed and returning to the scene weeks later. Jeremiah Smith was arrested last week, according to court records reviewed by Savage RoyalT Ent.

Incident Details

The alarming event unfolded on November 6, 2023, when officers from the Memphis Police Department responded to a report of child abduction at an apartment complex on Johnson Avenue around 4:05 a.m.

The victim’s mother informed authorities that her 7-year-old daughter had run to her room, explaining that “someone took her from her bed” and carried her outside. Remarkably, the child escaped her captor and safely made her way back home.

The young girl shared the traumatic details with investigators, describing the suspect as a thin Black male, possibly with curly hair, wearing a dark-colored hoodie and black pants. She explained that the man carried her to a basketball court within the apartment complex. After escaping once, she was caught, pushed to the ground, but ultimately broke free again and returned home.

Surveillance footage obtained by investigators confirmed the child’s account, showing a suspect dressed in a brown hoodie and black pants attempting the kidnapping.

Suspect Returns Weeks Later

On November 24, the victim’s mother contacted the police again, reporting that the suspect had returned to their home at approximately 5:40 a.m. This time, a neighbor, Juan Cathey, noticed the individual lurking near the rear door of the victim’s home.

Cathey confronted the suspect, who falsely claimed that his aunt lived in a nearby unit. Knowing the neighborhood well, Cathey disputed the claim and engaged the individual in conversation, luring him closer to a security camera.

The neighbor observed the man closely and later identified Jeremiah Smith from a six-person police lineup as the individual present on November 24.

Arrest and Charges

Smith was arrested and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping. He is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail with a bond set at $150,000.

According to court records, Smith is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on January 15, 2024.

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