DOTHAN, Ala. — According to the Dothan Police Department, a Florida woman wanted on kidnapping and probation violation charges was arrested Wednesday after investigators tracked her vehicle to the Dothan area and safely recovered a missing child.
Police said they were notified on July 29 that Jenay Dominique Burns, 38, who was wanted by the Orlando Police Department on charges of kidnapping a minor and probation revocation, was believed to be in the Dothan area. Authorities also learned there was an emergency pickup order for a child under the age of 10 from Orange County, Florida, who was believed to be with Burns.
According to police, Florida authorities used License Plate Reader (LPR) technology to confirm Burns’ vehicle was near Dothan.
Investigators with the Dothan Police Department and the Houston County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force began following leads and using available technology to locate Burns and the child.
Police said Dothan Police drone operators located the suspect vehicle, a red Nissan Rogue with a Florida license plate, on West Main Street. Investigators then stopped the vehicle near the intersection of U.S. Highway 231 South and Alabama Highway 109, just south of Dothan.
Burns was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Houston County Jail, where she is awaiting extradition to Florida.
According to police, the missing child was found inside the vehicle and was taken into the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. DHR will coordinate the child’s return to family members in Florida.
Dothan Police thanked the Houston County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service for their assistance in the investigation.
Chief William E. Benny said the case demonstrates how technology, investigative work and cooperation between agencies can lead to the safe resolution of potentially dangerous situations.
