By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
ENTERPRISE—Family, friends, and the Wiregrass community can breathe a sigh of relief after the toddler abducted yesterday was found safe and unharmed, and the individuals responsible are now behind bars.
Two suspects are in custody after a 2-year-old Enterprise child was safely recovered following an AMBER Alert that prompted a multi-agency search across Alabama.
The Enterprise Police Department announced that Shamarco Moore, 33, and Kiara Avery, 30, were apprehended at approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23, by members of the U.S. Marshals Service at a residence in Montgomery. Authorities said both suspects were taken into custody without incident.
According to investigators, the child, Kingston Thomas, was reported missing Wednesday after allegedly being taken from a babysitter’s residence on Three Notch Street in Enterprise. Law enforcement quickly issued an AMBER Alert, launching a statewide search for the toddler.
Later that day, authorities located Kingston safely in Montgomery. Officials said the child was unharmed and has since been reunited with family.
Moore has been charged with second-degree kidnapping and second-degree making a terrorist threat. Avery has been charged with second-degree kidnapping. Both suspects are being held in the Montgomery County Jail while awaiting extradition to Enterprise.
The Enterprise Police Department said the arrests marked the latest development in the investigation that began on July 22 and credited the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies for bringing the case to a successful conclusion.
“The Enterprise Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their exceptional work on this case,” the department said in a statement. “We would also like to thank our community for their support throughout this investigation.”
During the investigation, police initially believed Moore was driving a dark blue Hyundai Genesis. After locating that vehicle, investigators shifted their search to a dark-colored Honda or Hyundai SUV, which they believed was being used by the suspects.
The safe recovery of Kingston and the arrests of both suspects brought a successful conclusion to the AMBER Alert. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information may be released as it becomes available.
As with all criminal cases, the charges against Moore and Avery are allegations, and both are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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