Any reason she's not in a car seat? >> Well, actually, we're moving right now. I got pulled over and seeing something [music] about a missing person. She refused to return the child. >> That isn't a child. The father's been awarded full custody. [music] >> Did you just sign a warrant for arrest? Why am I being arrested, though? She's made threats that they're going to have to forget the baby bag. Thursday, June 3rd, 2021, Panama City, Florida. What began as a minor traffic infraction in a busy tourist corridor ended up revealing the final moment of a 2-month search that started in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The plate hit that appeared when the officer ran the tag was no coincidence. Behind it were weeks of quiet interstate coordination, a violated custody order, and a child listed as missing and/or in danger. In seconds, a routine stop became the opportunity that Mississippi had been waiting for [music] since April. I'm Tyler, and this is your daily dose of crime. Get your daily dose of crime every single day at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. And we're turning it up, two videos per day. Don't miss a single moment, and tune in. Hey, I got to let you know, sir. You already know why I'm stopping you. Cuz I cuz I come through cuz I come through the light. You did what? Cuz I come through the Yes. Yeah. You got your driver's license with you? Yes, sir. Trying to get out I asked the car Cuz we didn't I was trying to I didn't realize I was That's that's it. I thought that car get over here. >> Four four four way stop sign. [ __ ] All right. Do you have the registration or the insurance or anything? Any reason she's not in a car seat? Uh we just we're actually moving. 2021 Panama, 97. And my car seat's in the back, but I have I have nowhere to set it down. I have no We come from the south of town, and we're we're we're we're relocating. We literally we we went up there driving. And then we got stuck and we had to come back to the room. So, you have a room? Mhm. So, the guess the correct solution would be to download some of your stuff so she can ride in the car seat. >> not it's not like it's not our room. It's a I see what you're saying, man. It's a yeah. Like we're we're literally going to sleep in the car. Her being in a car seat's more important to me than your stuff is, I guess what I'm saying. Okay. So. Give me a second. 813 on South Tyndall. Can you check out the NCIC on this car? I got pulled over and seeing something about a missing endangered person. 813, what's the uh name on it? >> On the 28er on the missing person. I see one right here. Is it Jordan Acres? Is that what it's showing up? I believe Acres is showing up. Not sure if it's related or not, but in the notes it says possibly Panama City area. So. Whose Whose car is this? It's mine. You have your ID, ma'am? I I have it here. What's up? How How can I help you? Tell them to move. Oh, that's no good at all. Yeah. All right. What's your What's your name? Jordan Acres. 2021 Panama City. 97. Yeah, if you if you pull over if you pull over like when 97. You want to we'll pull over right here, and I told whatever we can back here in the back. Yeah, we'll get to that, man. Spell "Acres" A A C R E Okay. Before the camera captures the first exchange, the system has already linked the vehicle's plate to Jordan Acres, wanted since April for violating a custody order. For the officer, that name changes everything. He's no longer assessing a traffic violation, but the possibility that he has the missing child in front of him. At this stage, the key is the discrepancy between the casual story Acres attempts to present and the alert flagged by the system. That anticipatory tension, common amongst adults who have been on the run, pushes the officer to watch for details the camera will not highlight. The absence of a child safety seat, excessive protective physical contact with the girl, and short guarded answers. These are typical signs of someone who fears that any detail might expose the truth. The focus is no longer the infraction, it's the immediate safety of the child. Hey, can you copy this uh white female signal light? I'm confirming that identity. I'm with the mother in the notes, Jordan Acres. Hey, what's her date of birth? Okay. Yeah. Wash your stuff? Yeah. What do you mean wash? Like in the laundry? Like a big a big laundry mat. Yeah, there's one uh one a few blocks back that way. Give me a second, I'm almost done. 813 on South Tyndall. I did confirm I am 10-12 with them. Is that a kid I'm seeing in the front seat, man? Uh that's what I thought. Yeah. That isn't a child. Sir. Is that mom? Oh, and child. Oh, boy. That's no bueno. No, I'm not even I'm not sure what 100% sure what to do with that. Signal 50, you think? I don't know. The The father's been awarded full custody, and she's refused to return the child. According to the notes, she's made threats that they're going to have to forget the baby bag. Hey, you mind stepping out and talk with me real quick? Just a second. Yeah, please. Got this baby. Sorry, I just step back here with him for just a second. What's up? Yo. What? Sorry to talk to you in just a second. Hello. I don't know what my name is. What's up? My fault. Can I come I'll be there right now. You see I'm not under arrest for being in Panama City, right? You're being detained for now. I was wanting to know Yeah. Where are the car keys? Sir. Where are the car keys? Huh? Can I get them out real quick? I'll check in the car. All right. I have to know what happened. Do what? Can I ask what happened? Yeah, he's going to explain everything to you in just a second. Apparently, there's something going on with you guys, and I don't I don't really know all the back story, so if I tell you much of anything that I don't know, I'm lying to you and I ain't doing my job. Well, I uh That's what you just The reason why I asked is because I got I got pulled over like this last night. Yeah. And uh I got I got pulled over like this again. This phone's is all I got. I just wanted to tell you what's going on, man. Oh. South Tyndall, 813. I just found her cuz I just found her cuz I just found out what happened. Signal. Her mama Her mama called me and said that Have a Just have a seat for me. said that uh she had something about she had missed court with her baby daddy or something. Uh-huh. And that uh I'm sorry about that, man. Uh I I didn't mean to cut you off. My fault, sir. I I I didn't mean to cut you off, I'm sorry. I I just got a lot of different stuff going on. Yeah, man. What What What's actually going on? Because I got a phone call last night from from your daughter that said that something about that there was going to be an Amber Alert or something put out for the baby because the But she has full custody of the child. Okay. Like she has paperwork in the truck that says state she has full custody of the And I never I I I didn't know nothing about it until literally until last night. Okay. And so we I told her that's what we've been in the process of talking about. I told her that you know, we need to head back and just go and and handle this the right way. Okay. And so, you know, and then that's what I'm trying to figure out is Is that Is that what's going on? Yeah. Yeah, that's that's that's that's the issue. It's showing up that she's she's missing. Um >> she does have full custody of the Okay. And that's Uh I really just wanted to separate you two, man. Um I don't You're not You're not under arrest, you're obviously detained, but I don't I don't anticipate you to be going to jail or anything like that. It's just a just a weird clean up. I just want you to kind of understand what's going on. I really just wanted you two separated. Um so I can If that's the I'm I'm waiting to confirm, and if if it's nothing, then you guys will be out of here. And and we'll call it that, but I got to I got to verify. So. Um Yeah, man. There's just so much BS been going on in the last month and a half for me and her, you know. I get it. And so we kind of we kind of Pretty much her mom moved down here. I don't know if you you remember the wreck that happened on Thomas Drive with the guy on the motorcycle that died? Uh yeah. Yeah, I think so. >> That was her That's her mom with her mom's fiance. Okay. And we was actually they were living at the Dunes of Panama. Uh-huh. And uh we come down here and we you know, we visited. And we and then we went back to the back to our hometown. Well, uh man, you know, it's just there's so much drama and BS going on between her and her baby daddy and all this thing and the other. Her mama called us and was like, "Hey, y'all get out of here." So, she called her attorney. Her attorney said that because her baby daddy was in jail Mhm. at the time of when he was supposed to get the baby. Mhm. And so her she called her attorney. Her attorney told us that if you don't want her to his family getting a hold of that baby, get your baby and get out of town. So, that's what we did, you know. Mhm. And now here we are. So, I was just like, "Man, you know, can't win for losing. Can't catch a break for nothing." Um Cuz I'm actually a tow truck driver. And so I'm trying to I'm uh wife's towing. I'm supposed to go here in a little while Uh-huh. to go go up there and get all my information and stuff put in. Mhm. And I'm supposed to be getting in the tow truck with them. Okay, yeah, that's a good company to work for. So, uh Um Yeah, I'm trying to think, man. There's like the Habitat for Humanity and Salvation Army and some things some things like that that might be able to help you guys out. >> You know, it wouldn't be as bad if we didn't have the baby. But because we have the baby, you know, it's just Oh, yeah, I know. I don't I mean, I can't stand jumping around jumping around jumping around jumping around. Yeah, that's no good. >> But Where are you guys staying at? Honestly, man, that that car right there. Okay. So, yeah, you I guess you missed that I heard you said you sleep in the car. Yeah. I guess we And you know, it's we know people down here, but it's not Yeah. trustworthy people, you know. I get it. >> So, that's literally why we got the car packed from top to bottom. Yeah. Trying to keep all our stuff with us, because that's all we have, you know? Mhm. When officers verify both women's identities, a crucial detail emerges. The child is listed in the NCIC as missing and/or a classification reserved only for minors at emotional or physical risk during their disappearance. This status indicates that Mississippi already suspected the environment around Acres was unstable. From this point forward, officers aren't only determining whether Acres acted alone. They're assessing whether the companion played an active role. The lack of a child restraint system, the prolonged time outside the legal residence, and the presence of two adults traveling with a child registered as endangered trigger expanded protocols, securing immediate protection, documenting inconsistencies, and coordinating with Mississippi to determine whether this was an impulsive escape or a sustained evasion. Psychologically, Acres' behavior aligns with profiles of a parental abductor under stress, hypervigilance, control over the narrative, and resistance to acknowledging recent movements, indicators of someone operating in emotional survival mode. She's been pretty cool. Yeah. All right. Let's I could probably just talk her into bringing her and sitting in my backseat. Let's do that. >> guarantee I could do that. Yeah, I don't want We don't have to put her in handcuffs or anything for now. For now, I just want to keep it really cool with the kid. So, let's let's go ahead and sit her in your car. Um make sure she's got no weapons on her. We don't have to search her, but Yeah, very much. Okay, perfect. Yeah, let's no big deal. She's not under arrest or anything like that. We're just trying to figure out what's going on. And we just want to want to sit her in our car. Yeah, she wants to smoke anyways, so that would give her an opportunity to smoke. Can she sit in your police car? Yep, yep, yep, perfect. Let's do that. Got it. Ooh. Hello. How are you? Say hi. Can you tell me your name? I think so. She is absolutely precious. Yeah, come here. I'll talk to you real quick. Yeah, I know. So, talk talking to the case agent, this is the child is the signal eight. That's birth mother. They're writing a warrant for her as we speak. Um she's run off child that Um this is boyfriend. They They don't have charges on him. They would like him interviewed. Um but And uh he's willing to say he and the car can go. Um we're standing by for warrants for her. They're trying to get dad over here to pick up child. So, the biggest thing is going to be figuring out what to do with the kiddo until dad gets here. Okay. I just Does mom have an idea or license or anything? I got a license number, but she doesn't have it with her. Is dad on the way? Mhm. Okay. How long? Coming from Mississippi. Okay, cuz they said typically they don't just come out and babysit, so she knows that we're not really supposed to either. I'm going to run it by their all out person, but um Yeah. they might just have to sit with kiddo until dad gets here. Okay. That's unusual, but we got to do, I guess. Yeah, cuz they're I mean they're out of state. There's nothing for them to do. It's just a babysitting issue, so Yeah. Um sounds good. I'll send you to the case agent, too, if you got any questions for her. Okay. The case agent in Mississippi? Yes. So, she might be able to give you some more clarification on time frames, all that. I didn't ask her that, but Um but we know he is on his way. That's what she said, yes. All right. Want me to just run it by them at the DCF, make sure that they don't want to come out, and then they want an interview from him, so I'll call the case agent to see what they need. Yeah, she asked for interviews, and then she said they had nothing for him in the car. Just ask for an interview for him from him. He's pretty forthcoming, so All right. Let me get some clarification, and I'll Yeah. Appreciate it. All right. This is a traffic stop. Bye. Yeah, if they don't have warrants, how would you already So, when I ran the tag, uh she's the RO, and kiddo comes back as missing and This message needs to be on me. Yes. Um I I started running through dispatch, and there's that actually says don't don't don't uh detain or arrest based on this information. So, I called the case agent, and she's like, "Yeah, we're we're doing it right now. Like, just just hold what you got." I was like, "Okay, so this is this is legit." But No, I was just curious how all that tied together if they hadn't got the warrants. Yeah, just me being nosy. So, dispatch didn't even mention it to me, so Yeah. That's crazy. Yeah. All right, let me get you Yep, take time. Yeah, just still working on it. Yeah. That's where I'm at right now. So, they can't necessarily babysit. They're going to try to contact the CAC and see if they can Yeah, that'd be a good call. get someone there, but otherwise we will be stuck with Yeah. We'll see. If not, they recommended, cuz it's like an 8-hour drive on our map, um they would just keep him on the kid in Yeah, well, they we don't we don't have a >> her care for her until >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. We don't have the 48s yet anyway, so it's going to be a while for that anyway. So, yeah, that's why I don't If there's anything, I don't know. I mean, do we have any ETA on the 48? She Yeah, she's she's already talking there. It's just a matter of the judge signing them is what it sounds like. And they're going to extradite? Yeah. See what you have so far. CAC is going to take her. Okay. 20 minutes if you can get her there. Um I'm going to finish up with him, get her ETA for dad, cuz I got his contact information now, and then I'll just follow up with them. Worst case scenario, they have to leave, and we got to send an officer to pick her up for the next couple hours. Yep, she's trying to get him on a plane. I said if we can do that, then we Uh she said it'd be a couple hours flight, then get him out get him out of his Warner. From Mississippi? Yeah. Uh sounds like he can get him here. If he can get him here sooner that way, we can probably arrange to have someone meet him at the airport. I could take my truck. I'd say an hour. She said it's like a 10-hour drive. Yeah. Oh. He's on his way to the They live almost It's like I guess it's in North Mississippi, almost to Memphis. Oh. North Mississippi. Yeah. Once Child Protective Services enter the scene, they bring an assessment that officers cannot perform on their own. Evaluating the child's condition after 2 months outside Mississippi. Through interviews and clinical observation, they detect signs typical of prolonged instability, shifting stories about where they slept, lack of consistent meals, and the absence of recent medical or school records. These findings point to an itinerant lifestyle, a characteristic of adults who avoid remaining in one place in order to prevent being located. For specialists, this indicates the escape was not impulsive, but sustained. Emotionally, the child shows signs of accumulated stress caused by constant movement and a lack of predictability, fatigue, being clingy, and disoriented sleep patterns. With this information, the investigation no longer focuses solely on confirming Acres' identity, and now seeks to reconstruct how the evasion was maintained, and whether the companion acted as a facilitator, an enabler, or a codependent participant in the flight. So, you're all right. That's freaking drive. >> Yes, it is. Uh I don't know if I could take anything. They're exploring They're exploring the options to get him here as soon as I can as soon as they can. Um Yeah, she uh the dad was the dad was there with her when I talked to her. He signed the warrants. She's going to get them signed by the judge and sending them over so we can we can do what we're going to do with her. Okay. So, they're going to CAC is going to take the case. So, whatever you guys want to do with mom, you you can do. Do we need to hold her just until they sign those warrants in case they want an interview? Yeah. As far as I know, no, but they may change their mind, and then I'll get him out again. Yeah, take these two to Suzy? No, just the just the girl, right? It's the baby. Yeah. Um yeah, you're good once you're done with him. Did you interview her or no? No, not yet. I Like I said, I've got a depo in 15 minutes. Yeah. Oh. So, That's I don't know. Yeah, if if they want one, we can we can take care of that before you guys deal. Um Yeah, um if you want to just bring baby to the CAC. If you want to transfer her up to the station, I'm going to get rid of him. I'll do my depo, and then I'll call the detective back first, see if they want to interview, and then if not, I'm probably going to If it's okay with you, I'm probably just going to take them both up there together, and we're just going to hold them both up until I get ready to separate them. At the CAC? Yeah. Or they are they Can both go to the station, or we can both go to the CAC. Does that work for you? Um yeah, they have different policies, but I don't think because it's an they might allow mom in this facility, so just double-check with them. I'm just trying to wait until I have the warrant in hand before I before I bother separating. You know what I'm saying? Yep, yep, understand. Um So, as long as it's cool with our bosses, that's what I prefer to do. And then we'll take her over there once it's confirmed. Okay. I spoke to Latonya at the CAC, she said she'll be expecting you. Okay, perfect. I'll finish up with him and get him out. Okay. That's where I'm at. It's 1:11 in the morning. Yeah, we're just going to take her to the station for now. Okay. Um I'll I'll call I'll call Gretchen and explain to her what's going on. No offense to her, but I'm not I'm not separating them. I'm not taking her to anywhere except for the station until that warrant's confirmed. Yeah. Um So, how would we even transport the kid to We can transport the kid. I'll take take her in the car seat. Oh, oh yeah. I'll talk to Gretchen about that. Honestly, we're we're just going to take her to the station, and we'll go from there. All right. I'll give her an opportunity to smoke anyways. That's fine. Got it. Yeah. All right, you guys are going to ride to the station with us. Is that correct? All right. So, if you want to smoke real quick before we go, Yeah, absolutely. I don't know. Requested detective [ __ ] Are we driving or are we driving you? Driving me. Uh I gave them to you. Oh, never mind. I think I gave them to dispatch. Hey there. Bye. Bye. What did you leave? I think I left a wipe in my car. Uh that's no good. I'm going to change my clothes, cuz she did get dirty up here y'all. Hi, how are you? What are you doing? Actually can you hold her for a second? Oh yeah, I'm sorry. I know this is tall. Hi baby. We'll be right back. It's okay. Well that's okay. Hello. Hello. I know I know a little bit of it but if she's not going back and I leave this here before Can you give her a kiss? That's just fine. I'll wait right here right now. >> [crying] >> 421 10-1 I'm going to give her that back. Yeah. Thank you. All right. Thanks that is fine. >> [crying] >> You still back here? All right, they did just sign a warrant for arrest like like right now. Um why am I being arrested though? For for I think it was custodial interference. See your heart. That's not what they're saying. my car if y'all want to look in it. That's not what they're saying in Mississippi. So I'm not charging you with anything. It's just a warrant. When reviewing the documents sent from Mississippi, a new detail shifts the context. Acres not only ignored the custody order, but also turned off her phone during several key periods eliminating all digital trace. This behavior is not accidental. It's a recurring pattern in long-term parental abductions to avoid cell tower triangulation while minimizing detection. Simultaneously child protective services identify additional indicators in the girl, clothing that no longer fits her size, lack of personal belongings, and signs of accumulated physical fatigue. These observations confirm that the group did not stay in one location, but moved frequently, likely improvised but deliberate in order to avoid being found. Together these findings will indicate a sustained evasion, minimally planned yet intentionally maintained, possibly supported by informal networks or outside assistance. Investigators now have to determine whether the companion had acted with full knowledge of Acres' legal status, which could elevate her role from bystander to co-offender. All right, step over here with me. Sit her in my car. I got to I'm going to talk to them real quick. Yeah, just have a seat. We'll we'll we'll we'll see if we can get you something. Oh my god. Come on. Have a seat. Y'all have no idea what he is. Nobody has said that. Here, have a seat. Hey there. Uh the father who has custody is on his way here on a flight. He should be in town at about 3:30. Okay. Um is there a way we can get the kid over there to meet him or get him here some way? If you guys can't, I can see if our CID can arrange it, but Yeah, I can talk to Lori and see. I'll meet her at the airport. Yeah. Okay. Corey I believe has his information. So if I'll have her get it with you and and work work all that out if that's okay. Mhm. All right, perfect. Thank you guys so much. Uh she's going straight to the jail and she's going to be extradited back in in whatever they got her to wear anyway. Okay. So otherwise I mean I would, but Okay. Just want to make sure. Yeah, I just I didn't want to separate them until they literally just signed the warrants as we were pulling up. So Okay. All right. So sorry I had to work it like that. I really appreciate you guys so fine. Thank you. Thanks. Okay, good. I'm sorry. No, it's all right. I understand. Um I haven't been lying to you. Um Like I said, she actually as we were pulling up the the case agent for this case called me and uh like they just they just issued a warrant for you. So that's what you'll be arrested for. Well they're going to find out. I'm not I'm not trying to freak out. No, I know. I know. I just got Mhm. I was I didn't tell I married this man. He was perfect. Mhm. I think I married him like three years. He put my mouth on I was He split my ribs. 813 501 because I love him. This was all pregnancy not pregnancy. And I was in the court. I'm hurting. 1051 to jail copy again. She is laying She is told I I feel every bruise that I made with him before. 11581 Yes, ma'am. You want Do you want those windows up so the AC blows back there you want them down so you can Okay. You did my heart just got ripped out of my chest. I understand. Just just relax. You're working yourself up. I know and that baby is in the the far the safest place in town it can be right now. I know, but that's the that's the safest place in this town she can be. The the ladies are excellent. That's what they do. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Well that's if you turn yourself sideways if you turn yourself sideways you can get some of that pressure off your back. Do you know what my charges are? Uh I'm not sure if if they call it custodial interference or that's basically what it is, custodial interference. I don't I don't know what the term is in Mississippi. Jordan Acres faces a kidnapping charge which carries a sentencing range from 1 year to life in prison, depending on factors like the duration of the disappearance, interstate travel, and the in your designation assigned to the child. If prosecutors choose a lesser route, they may apply interstate removal of a child which carries a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and or a $2,000 fine. Though the interstate nature and evidence of prolonged evasion make it more likely that the higher charge will stand. The companion may face charges of aiding and abetting, which in Mississippi can be punished with the same severity as the principal offense if active participation in keeping the child from the lawful custodial parent is proven. With the arrests formalized, the court will now determine the appropriate penalties and the steps necessary to restore emotional stability and a protective environment for the child after 2 months of itinerant living.