A mom from Virginia has been arrested after allegedly kidnapping her own children and driving them across state lines.
Shanice Chante Davison—who is said to be the estranged biological mother of Jai'Marcus Lewis, 10; Ja'Miya Lewis, 8; and Ja'Liyah Lewis, 6—took the three children from a bus stop in Fishersville, Virginia, on Thursday morning, the Augusta County Sheriff's Office reported via its Facebook page.
In its latest update, the ACSO said authorities apprehended Davison in Alabama. "The Alabama Highway Patrol and US Marshall Service took Davison into custody in the Birmingham area of Alabama after a brief pursuit on I-495. Davison was taken into custody without incident. All three children were safe and unharmed," the sheriff's office wrote.
According to the ACSO, Davison was arrested on charges related to three counts of felony abduction. The agency used Facebook to keep the public updated during the day, announcing in a post that at 8:27 a.m. on Thursday, it had received a call about a kidnapping in Fishersville.
The person calling said their three children were waiting at a bus stop near their apartment building when a black vehicle arrived at the stop and took the children, the ACSO said. Both of the girls were wearing pink jackets, and the boy was wearing a black and dark blue jacket with neon zippers.
The ACSO then reported: "Based on evidence gathered, it is believed that Ms. Davison is traveling with the children and is likely on the way back to Alabama. The safety and well-being of the children remain our highest priority, and we are working diligently with law enforcement agencies across state lines to locate them."
"This is an active investigation, and we are committed to reuniting the children with their legal guardians as quickly and safely as possible," it added.
The Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert on Thursday, describing the children as "at risk" and "in extreme danger." It later informed the public via Facebook that the children had been "found safe."
The ACSO thanked the agencies that assisted in locating the missing children, writing in its latest update: "The ACSO would like to express our sincere appreciation to the Virginia State Police, United States Marshall's Office, The FBI, Alabama Highway Patrol, Evergreen Police Department and The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Hoover PD and the USMS Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force."
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about this article? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
English (US) ·