A Tennessee man was arrested for the abduction of a 7-year-old girl and continuous stalking incidents at her home. Authorities said the stalking started weeks after the girl managed to escape from him.
On November 6, 19-year-old Jeremiah Smith reportedly kidnapped a girl from her bedroom in the early morning. He allegedly entered the apartment by unlocking the door through a window. The victim escaped twice while he carried her to a nearby basketball court and ran home. Two weeks later, Smith was seen near the family’s back door, causing concerns for the victim’s safety, TOO FAB reported.
According to a court affidavit, Smith attempted to deflect suspicion by claiming his aunt lived nearby. However, a neighbor who knew the victim and her family contacted authorities because they doubted his story. Police noted that Smith was wearing clothing similar to what he had on during the kidnapping and he also resided in the same complex.
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The same neighbor who interacted with Smith, recognized him in a police lineup. He is now held in the Shelby County Jail on a $150,000 bond.