Utah couple arrested in Murfreesboro for Rossville kidnapping
John Samples, Anjela Baker. Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
WALKER COUNTY, Ga. (WDEF) — A Utah couple was arrested in Rutherford County, Tennessee for a kidnapping and domestic violence incident in Walker County, Georgia.
A joint press release from the Walker County Sheriff’s Office and Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office explained the circumstances of the incident.
Authorities said 26-year-old John Kavin Samples of Utah is the non-custodial father of a three-year-old boy in Rossville. While visiting his son, with girlfriend Anjela Baker, they kidnapped the child from his mother.
The kid’s custodial mother chased them while Samples put the child into his van and got in the driver’s seat. The sheriff’s office says when the mother opened the door to get her child, Baker handed Samples a gun. They said Samples then pointed the gun at the mother and tried to shoot her.
However, he missed, but then tried to hit her with his car before driving away.
No one was injured, though.
Around 2.5 hours later, authorities located Samples’ van in Murfreesboro. Deputies with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office then stopped the van and arrested both Samples and Baker.
In Rutherford County, they face charges of being fugitives from justice.
Detectives said the child has been returned to a family member at this time.
In addition, they said the Department of Children’s Services took custody of Baker’s 5-year-old daughter and 6-month-old baby, who is Samples’ child.
Walker County authorities are charging Samples with the following.
- Aggravated assault of the family violence act
- Kidnapping
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony
- Cruelty to a child first-degree
- Home invasion first-degree
They are charging Baker with the following.
- Kidnapping
- Conspiracy to commit aggravated assault
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office plans to extradite the two to Walker County on April 8.
