Missing Mississippi children found safe after abduction, investigation bureau says
UPDATE
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation canceled an Amber Alert for 3-year-old Zaikeith Horn and 1-year-old Zyairah Hampton after the children were found safe just before noon Friday.
The man suspected of abducting them, Nickolas Hampton, 23, is in custody, a spokesman for the bureau confirmed to McClatchy News.
The children had last been seen earlier Friday in Greenville, Mississippi, authorities said.
Original story
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is asking the public’s help in locating two children taken from Greenville.
Zaikeith Horn, 3, and Zyairah Hampton, 1, were last seen July 17 in the 1200 block of Highway 82 in Greenville, according to an Amber Alert issued early Friday. The kids were accompanied by a 23-year-old man named Nickolas Hampton, authorities say.
Zaikeith is described as a Black male standing 3’2” tall and weighing 35 pounds. He has brown eyes and braided black hair, and was last seen wearing a burgundy T-shirt with animal print and black pants, according to the bureau.
Zyairah is described as a Black female 2’5” tall with brown eyes and black hair pulled into a ponytail. She was last seen wearing a diaper and a pink T-shirt, authorities said.
The pair was last seen with Hampton, who police describe as a Black man standing 5’5” tall and weighing 125 pounds. He has short black hair and was last seen wearing a white tee and black sweat pants.
The relationship between the children and Hampton has not been released. Authorities are also unsure if a vehicle is being used or where Hampton could be headed.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hampton or the children is asked to contact the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation at 855-642-5378.
This story was originally published July 17, 2020 at 10:26 AM.