A Camden County woman was arrested early Sunday morning for kidnapping in the third degree, according to the Camden County Sheriff's office website.
Melissa Walker allegedly kidnapped a child on Saturday in Osage Beach, according to a probable cause statement.
Walker allegedly picked up the child on Dec. 14, who was supposed to stay with her until Thursday, Dec. 19. She then changed the pick up date to Friday, Dec. 20.
Walker had no custody over the child, according to court documents.
The morning of Saturday, Dec. 21, a person, whose name is redacted in court documents, called Walker several times, starting at approximately 6 a.m. to inform her that they were going to Osage Beach for to pick up the child after they got off work at 11 a.m. Walker eventually messaged back, saying the child "should just stay with her," and to call her, but never answered her phone, according to court documents.
The person in contact with Walker then got a text message from her at approximately 1:03 p.m. in which Walker said "We are at a thing in Jeff City. Kinda loud call you in a bit." Walker received a text saying she had until 9 p.m. to call back or law enforcement would be contacted, to which Walker turned off her phone and stopped contact, according to court documents.
According to court documents, the last time the biological parent had seen their daughter was on Dec. 19 around noon at a car wash in Dallas County, where they were with Walker.
Charges were pursued for kidnapping and a voluntary written statement was provided to law enforcement, along with screenshots of Walker's text messages and a photograph of the child.
Corporal Bailey Denny then contacted the Children's Division, due to them attempting to make contact with Walker earlier in the night to assess the well being of the child. Denny and another deputy were then advised on Dec. 21 to make contact with Walker at her residence, according to court documents. In-person and phone contact was unsuccessful.
Walker's phone would go straight to voicemail, leading Denny to believe her phone was shut off, they said in court documents.
Missouri State Highway Patrol was contacted by Denny, and the child was entered as an endangered missing person. After that, a ping was started on Walker's phone, according to court documents.
Dispatch advised a ping on Walker's phoen, showing her last location at a business in Osage Beach, at approximately 7:03 p.m. on Dec. 21. There was a 100 meter radius to the location, according to court documents.
During investigation, it was learned that Walker is an employee at the anonymous business and was not scheduled to work until the following week, according to court documents.
Deputies were able to contact the manager of the business, who provided a copy of the room listings with names attached. Walker was not assigned a room. Investigators determined Walker was staying in an "unassigned room," according to court documents.
Eventually, Walker opened the door to law enforcement and Denny was able to place her in handcuffs, smelling intoxicants emitting from Walker. Walker was then transported to the Camden County Adult Detention Center, according to court documents.
Denny contacted the person who filed the missing persons report and they responded to the scene and took custody of the child.