Youth Says He Was Kidnapped Then Released on Highway

Via phone: Jason Parham

A young man who was reported missing on Thursday morning has returned home to his family safely, but not without a horrendous couple of hours at the hands of alleged kidnappers. Sixteen-year-old Jason Parham told News Five this evening that he was heading to a shop on Holy Emmanuel Street on Thursday morning when a car pulled up beside him and four men forced him inside. He shared his ordeal with us.

Via phone: Jason Parham, Alleged Kidnap Victim

“I went to buy a flash and I went to buy food, so when I was going around the area to buy food, I saw an unknown car come beside me. [They] put a black thing on my head. So then, the vehicle went, I don’t see which direction it took me to, but it went up and they put me out in the middle of the road. They told me they said because of my brother. I don’t be in any gang activities or anything.”

Marion Ali

“Who is your brother?”

Via phone: Jason Parham

“Devon.”

Marion Ali

“Devon Parham?”

Via phone: Jason Parham

“Yes, ma’am.”

Marion Ali

“Okay.  Why would they mention Devon Parham?”

Via phone: Jason Parham

“They don’t mention his name. They say this is a message to your brother.”

Parham said his kidnappers left him on one of the highways, which he could not identify, after which he hitchhiked a ride to a cousin’s house where he spent the night before going home today.