On June 3, 2018 at approximately 1:30 AM, a mother allegedly had an acquaintance, Brooke N. Hayes, drive her and her 18 month old daughter to Walmart, located at 3200 Fort Henry Drive in Kingsport. Ms. Hayes was driving a vehicle belonging to the mother.
Upon arrival at Walmart, the mother allegedly exited the vehicle to purchase a beverage, leaving Ms. Hayes and her daughter in the vehicle; however, when she returned, her daughter, her vehicle, and Ms. Hayes were gone.
The mother stated that she waited at Walmart for over two hours before notifying the authorities. Shortly after 3:30 AM, the mother called Kingsport Central Dispatch and a Kingsport Police Patrol Officer immediately responded.
While on scene, the mother made contact with Ms. Hayes via telephone. The Officer spoke with Ms. Hayes on the phone and instructed her to return to Walmart with the child and the vehicle, which she agreed to do. When she failed to show up in a reasonable time frame; the case was turned over to the K.P.D. Criminal Investigations Division to be investigated as a possible child abduction.
After further investigation, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant, charging Ms. Hayes with Especially Aggravated Kidnapping and Motor Vehicle Theft. Detectives also requested that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issue an Amber Alert for Madalynn.
Shortly after the Amber Alert was issued, K.P.D. Detectives facilitated the safe return of Madalynn, and the alert was cancelled. The stolen vehicle was also recovered. Ms. Hayes is now in custody, pending arraignment, in lieu of a $30,000 bond. She was booked into the Kingsport City Jail and has since been transferred to the Sullivan County Jail in Blountville. |