Local authorities find missing boy

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Natchez &8212; Natchez and Adams County law enforcement officials on Tuesday recovered a boy reported kidnapped from the coast &8212; but their suspect in the crime is still at large.

Officials are looking for David Chatman, 50, a Natchez native who had been living in Gautier.

Chatman is suspected of kidnapping 4-year-old John &8220;J.T.&8221; Blakney Jr. and taking the boy&8217;s father&8217;s car, authorities told The Mississippi Press newspaper. The families are acquaintances.

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The Adams County Sheriff&8217;s Department and Natchez Police Department responded to a &8220;be on the lookout&8221; request from Gautier authorities Tuesday, since Chatman was suspected to be headed toward his hometown.

ACSO and NPD officers went to a house on Pinemount Road in Adams County where some of Chatman&8217;s family lives, sheriff&8217;s department Maj. Jody Waldrop said. They found the boy but not the suspect.

&8220;(Chatman) ran into the woods, but the child was recovered unharmed,&8221; Waldrop said.

The boy was released to the custody of the Department of Human Services, Waldrop said.

According to Blakney&8217;s father, John Sr., the two had been visiting Chatman at a trailer registered to Chatman in Gautier. Blakney said he fell asleep and, when he woke up, his son, car and friend were missing.

Chatman is wanted on kidnapping charges and other unrelated charges.

Chatman is a black male, about 6 feet tall and 185 pounds. Gautier authorities said he has brown eyes and salt and pepper hair and is missing four front teeth and his left index finger.

Waldrop said anyone with information about his whereabouts should call the police department at 601-445-5565 or the sheriff&8217;s department at 601-442-2752.

Joy E. Stodghill of The Mississippi Press contributed to this report.