Columbia Police respond to child kidnapping on North Providence Road

At about 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 18, Columbia Police officers responded to a call regarding the kidnapping of two children ages 1 and 3 in a vehicle driven by an adult female from the 1600 block of North Providence Road.

Columbia Police officers immediately issued an Amber Alert. The Missouri State Highway Patrol located the vehicle on Interstate 70 near the Higginsville exit at about 4:30 p.m. and recovered the unharmed children. Columbia Police officers arrested Joy A. Smith, 24, of Columbia, on charges of two counts of first-degree kidnapping and one count of first-degree tampering.

The Columbia Police Department would like to thank the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Boone County Sheriff's Office for their assistance in searching for the children.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Columbia Police Department at 573.874.7652. To provide information without leaving your name or number, call CrimeStoppers at 573.875.8477 or visit http://www.p3tips.com/899. If you provide information to CrimeStoppers that leads to an arrest, you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,500.

Case Number 2025-012077

Missouri statutes:

565.110 - Kidnapping, first degree

569.080 - Tampering in the first degree

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