Amber Alert canceled for 5-year-old girl abducted by man in Stark County

CANTON, Ohio (WOIO) - A statewide search for a missing 5-year-old girl who authorities said was abducted by 36-year-old Jonathan Lee Stinnett was canceled at 9:52 p.m. on Nov. 12.

Jackson Township Police confirmed the little girl is safe while Stinnett is under arrest and in custody for kidnapping and abduction.

They were located just outside of Bloomington, Ill. after a citizen contacted the McLean County Sheriff’s Department about a suspicious vehicle, according to the sheriff.

The AMBER Alert for the little girl was issued at 3:55 p.m. Friday.

Prior to, the girl hadn’t been seen since around 6:15 p.m. Thursday in Canton, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and Jackson Township police said.

Authorities said the girl was believed to be in danger. A poster from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office said she was abducted by a non-family member.

Jackson Township Police obtained arrest warrants for Jonathan Lee Stinnett at 7:55 p.m. Friday for the kidnapping and abduction of the girl.

The alert said they were last seen at the Goodwill Store located at 7257 Fulton Drive NW.

Initially, an endangered missing child alert was issued for her just after midnight Friday, but authorities then changed it to an AMBER Alert hours later after 2 p.m.

Stinnett was driving a silver 1991 Ford Aerostar van with Michigan license plate EHL7187.

Also at 7:55 p.m. on Friday, police said the following photos of Stinnett and the Aerostar were “recently” obtained at a store in Knox County:

Amber Alert issued for 5-year-old girl abducted by man in Stark County(Jackson Township Police)

In a 911 call, the child’s mother explains that her babysitter’s boyfriend said he was going to take the girl to a McDonald’s to go to the bathroom and that the babysitter grew concerned when Stinnett failed to return.

The babysitter called the child’s mom who then called 911.

“I can tell you we’ve been speaking with Ohio BCI, the FBI is assisting, Ohio State Patrol is assisting, we are working together and we’re starting to get tips,” Major Jim Monigold of the Jackson Township Police Department said.

Editor’s Note: Following the cancelation of the AMBER Alert, the little girl’s name and photo were removed from this story.