An eastern Kentucky woman who illegally took her baby after an Order of Removal was issued has been arrested at her home.
On Friday, Wayne County Juvenile Court issued an Order of Removal for seven-month-old Jocelyn Lair from her mother, 39-year-old Shelley K. Lair, of Monticello. The order, which granted custody to the Cabinet for Health & Family Services, was issued after officials deemed the baby “was in immediate danger due to the failure or refusal of the parent[s] to provide for the safety or needs of the child,” according to Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron.
Law enforcement looked for Lair and the baby for several hours on Friday before issuing an Amber Alert through Kentucky State Police late Friday night. The Amber Alert states: The “child is assumed to be in great danger due to mother’s drug use and (the) child’s past exposure and overdose (sic).”
At approximately 4:00 Saturday morning, Lair and Jocelyn were discovered at Lair’s home on Hwy 1456 (police noted the residence had been checked “numerous times” throughout Friday and early Saturday), but the suspect refused to exit the residence.
A standoff ensued, and after several hours, the owner of the home arrived and unlocked the door, allowing law enforcement inside. Lair was found hiding with the baby in a bedroom.
After 30-plus minutes of “face-to-face negotiations,” the baby was “physically removed” from Lair, Catron said.
The suspect was arrested and charged with kidnapping (minor), third-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree wanton endangerment, and resisting arrest. She was lodged in the Wayne County Detention Center.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
