Arrest made in kidnapping of elderly woman in Clayton County

Published: Dec. 8, 2022 at 4:56 PM EST|Updated: Dec. 9, 2022 at 11:27 AM EST

JONESBORO, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Police have made an arrest in connection to the kidnapping of an 86-year-old woman with dementia on Thursday.

The Clayton County Police Department says around 3:25 p.m., officers responded to the 7800 block of N Main Street in Jonesboro in reference to a stolen vehicle. It was also reported that 86-year-old Shirley McCurry was still inside the vehicle at the time it was stolen.

The Clayton County Police Department quickly sent out a vehicle description and asked for assistance from the public and local law enforcement partners to help locate Shirley McCurry. A picture of McCurry and the person of interest was also released along with a video of the incident.

Vehicle stolen in Jonesboro with elderly woman inside(Clayton County Police Department)

Clayton County Police say while detectives were talking with the family, a call came through to the family advising that McCurry was located in the 800 block of Howell Mill Road in Atlanta at a restaurant.

McCurry’s son, Phillip, told Atlanta News First the suspect did not harm his mother.

The driver of the stolen car talked to the valet guy and gave him $10 to take my mom into the restaurant while he went to go to park the car, he said, but he never came back,” he said.

Around 9:30 p.m., the DeKalb County Police Department received a phone call about the person of interest and the vehicle being located at a restaurant. Once the person of interest returned to the vehicle, he was immediately taken into custody by the Dekalb Police.

The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Taron Williams, was charged with kidnapping and felony theft by taking a motor vehicle.

“It just seems like everything is upside down these days with crime,” Phillip said. “You don’t really think about it until it happens to your family.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

An investigation is underway after Clayton County police officials say a vehicle was stolen with an elderly woman still inside.

According to officials, officers responded to the 7800 block of North Main Street in Jonesboro after a report of a vehicle stolen.

Upon arrival, investigators say an 86-year-old woman named Shirley Jenkins McCurry was still inside her gray 2016 Nissan Rogue with Georgia plates CTW6796. According to officials, McCurry has dementia.

Officials add that the vehicle was last seen on surveillance cameras at 4:29 p.m. in the area of Marietta Street and Means Street in Atlanta.

According to a surveillance video shared from the Clayton County Police Department Facebook page, a man wearing a tan-colored shirt, pants, and hat with red sneakers walk towards the Nissan Rogue in the parking lot of a convenience store. The video shows what appears to be a woman sitting in the passenger seat. The man walked towards the car and later drove off.

Anyone with information or who has seen the gray 2016 Nissan Rogue with Georgia plates CTW6796 is asked to call 9-1-1.

This is a developing investigation. Stay with Atlanta News First for updates.