A boy’s remains were found in Illinois two years after he was reported missing by his mother. Now, his father and another adult have been arrested after he claimed he dropped his son off to live with the Amish.
Ronnell Marquese Jones and Kirstie Dora were both arrested and charged with parental kidnapping and harassment after an investigation was launched regarding the missing boy. Jones, 32, is the boy’s biological father and reportedly refused to let his mother see him since April 2024, according to court documents viewed by Law & Crime.
After the mother reported that her son was missing in 2024, she told investigators with the Desloge Police Department that she last saw her son in Jones’ vehicle and he had missing teeth at the time. She also claimed that Jones fled the state with the boy.
Jones allegedly told numerous stories about where his son was, according to police. He allegedly claimed on one occasion that the boy was in the custody of the state, and he alleged at another time that he dropped the boy off at an Amish community in Mississippi where he went to “visit him.”
Police added that Jones refused to cooperate with law enforcement, per the court documents.
Authorities also spoke to witnesses, who said they believed the boy was dead.
On June 12, a warrant was issued for Jones’ arrest on suspicion of parental kidnapping and harassment. He was arrested on June 30. Meanwhile, Dora, 35, was arrested on the same charges two days later on July 2.
It is not currently clear how the two defendants know each other or why police believe Dora was involved in the boy’s disappearance.
The Desloge Police Department announced on Thursday, July 9, that a child’s remains were found in Stookey Township, Illinois, which is about 16 miles away from where the defendants live in St. Louis, Missouri. The child’s remains have not yet been identified, but police said the discovery was in connection with Jones’ parental kidnapping case.
Jones is now being held without bond “in light of new information,” according to court documents. Dora is also being held without bond. However, neither defendant has yet to be charged with the child’s death.
Both Jones and Dora are in custody at the St. Francois County Jail, and Jones is scheduled to appear in court on July 16. It is not currently clear when Dora is next scheduled to appear in court.
It is not currently clear if either Jones or Dora have entered pleas or retained legal counsel following their arrests. The Desloge Police Department confirmed to Us that the boy’s body had not yet been identified as of time of publication.
