6-month-old Ohio twin at center of Amber Alert dies; family cites feeding accident

COLUMBUS, Ohio — One of the twin infants rescued last month during an Amber Alert in Ohio that garnered national attention died late Saturday, police said.

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Police were called to the Columbus residence of the family of Ky’air Thomas at about midnight EST, WSYX-TV reported. The boy was later pronounced dead at an area hospital, according to WCMH-TV. He was 6 months old.

Update 1:46 p.m. EST Jan. 29: Family members told WSYX-TV that Ky’air Thomas’ death was a feeding accident.

Wilma Booker, the aunt of the twins’ mother, Wilhelmina “Momo” Barnett, said her children explained what allegedly happened.

“While I wasn’t exactly right there when it happened, my kids were there. Momo was feeding the babies, and one of them started choking on the milk and that’s what happened,” Booker told WSYX. “She immediately called 911, trying to do chest compression and CPR things to get the baby back at that time. It was just like an accident that happened from feeding the babies and that was it.”

Police have not confirmed Booker’s account of the incident. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Original report: Columbus police responded to a call for an unresponsive child and are investigating the baby’s death, according to WCMH.

Ky’air and his twin brother, Kason Thomas, were abducted in Columbus on Dec. 19. The twins’ mother had gone into a Donatos Pizza store in Columbus to pick up a DoorDash order at about 9:45 p.m. EST and left the children in the vehicle, according to WBNS-TV.

Nalah Tamiko Jackson, 24, a homeless woman, allegedly stole the 2010 Honda Accord with the infants inside the vehicle, WCMH reported. Ky’air Thomas was found later that day at Dayton International Airport.

Kason Thomas was found safe in Indianapolis three days later, WHIO-TV reported, citing the Columbus Police Department.

Jackson is facing two counts of kidnapping in Franklin County, according to the television station.

Police said an autopsy will be performed on Ky’air Thomas on Monday, WBNS reported. Additional details about the boy’s death were not immediately available, according to the television station.

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