Amber Alert issued for baby reportedly abducted by mother in Whitehall
Police issued an Amber Alert for a 1-year-old baby investigators say was abducted by his non-custodial mother.
Kristin Bailey, 26, took her son Kesean Bailey during a supervised visit May 23 at Buckeye Ranch at 4653 E. Main Street, Whitehall police said. Buckeye Ranch provides mental health and foster services for children.
Kristin Bailey was last seen in the area and Homestead Drive and East Maynard Avenue in a silver SUV, police said. She suffers from a mental-health condition and has made threats against her son's legal guardian, police said.
Police described Kesean Bailey as a 1-year-old baby with black hair and brown eyes wearing a grey sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and white and brown shoes.
Anyone with information about Kristen or Kesean Bailey's locations can contact the Whitehall Police Department at 614-237-6333.
An Amber Alert is a notification system that helps find abducted children. It was first developed in Texas in 1996.
The Amber Alert system began when Dallas-Fort Worth broadcasters teamed with local police to develop an early warning system to help find abducted children. "Amber" is an acronym for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response.
The system was created as a legacy to 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered. Other states and communities set up their own Amber Alert plans as the idea was adopted nationwide.
The Amber Alert plan was launched in Ohio on Jan. 1, 2003.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the criteria to issue an Amber Alert include:
There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
The law enforcement agency believes the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an Amber Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
The child's name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center system.
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Amber Alert issued for missing baby abducted by mother
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