Non-custodial father arrested for kidnapping 3-year-old son from Georgia
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — A non-custodial father has been charged with kidnapping his son from his custodial parent after he was arrested in Rutherford County.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), 26-year-old John Kavin Samples, of Utah, was wanted for taking his son from the boy’s mother’s home in Rossville, Georgia, just across the Tennessee border. Samples had visited his son in Georgia Monday night and took him by force from the home as he was preparing to leave.
According to Walker County Detective Jonathan Camp, Samples “forcibly kidnapped the child from his mother in the presence of his older sister while in the possession of a firearm.”
CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime news from Middle Tennessee
The boy’s mother chased them, Camp said, but Samples put the child in the van and got into the driver’s seat. When the mother opened the door to retrieve her child, Samples’ girlfriend, Anjela Baker, allegedly handed Samples a gun.
“He pointed it at the mother and tried to shoot her but missed,” Camp said.
The detective added that Sample “tried to hit her with the car” and drove away.
Walker County Sheriff’s deputies gave Samples’ vehicle information to the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) and other law enforcement agencies along I-24. The Georgia authorities then said they were able to locate Samples in the van in Murfreesboro.
THP notified RCSO of the wanted vehicle, and it was spotted a short time later by RCSO Deputy Luis Ramirez at a Shell station on Old Fort Parkway, according to RCSO Sgt. Ethan Shenefield. Ramirez followed the vehicle onto I-24 until he and other deputies were able to stop Samples near the I-840 exit.
| READ MORE | Latest headlines from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County
Samples and Baker, 30, of Ogden, Utah, were charged with being fugitives from justice and booked into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center. A hearing on the fugitive charges and extradition to Georgia is set for April 8 in General Sessions Court.
The 3-year-old boy was safely returned to a family member, according to Rutherford County authorities. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services has taken custody of Baker’s 5-year-old daughter and the 6-month-old baby she shares with Samples.
According to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia authorities have obtained warrants charging Samples with aggravated assault of the family violence act, kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, cruelty to a child first-degree of his son and his son’s sister, and home invasion first degree.
⏩ Read today’s top stories on wkrn.com
Baker is separately charged with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault.
“This is a very tragic incident that because of the quick action of our deputies fortunately had a happy ending,” Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh said.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
