CHARLES COUNTY, MD — An 8-year-old boy from Charles County, Maryland is safe at home after being abducted on his way to school by 64-year-old Krystal Ninette Clay.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. Thursday when the boy was waiting near his bus stop in the Brians Road area. According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, Clay drove up in a white Chevy Malibu and asked the boy to get into the car. Initially, the child refused, but eventually got inside.
The woman drove about a mile before stopping her vehicle on Chapman’s Landing Road, near Mount Aventine. Authorities were unclear on her intentions, with Diane Richardson, a sheriff’s spokesperson, stating, “We don’t know what her intentions were. I don’t know if we’ll ever find that out.”
Luckily, an alert neighbor noticed something unusual. The neighbor approached and quickly realized that the boy was not okay, asking for help. The child clung to the good Samaritan, who then immediately called 911. Thanks to this quick thinking, the authorities were able to track down the abductor.
The sheriff’s office later determined that Clay had no permission to pick up the boy. She was arrested and charged with child abduction, a felony.
Neighbor Dennis Tomlinson expressed his shock and relief, saying, “For a woman to grab a kid and abduct him — that’s just — I don’t have the words for it. I’m glad people do step up because a lot of people are so afraid to step up anymore.”
The sheriff’s office is urging anyone with additional information to contact them at 301-609-3282.
