Boyfriend suspected in kidnapping case

By Elliot Njus

Published April 24, 2007

Amber Alert law cited as key to

finding the missing child.

Columbia police and Boone County Sheriff's deputies recovered a child who was kidnapped Friday morning after they issued an Amber Alert, according to a Columbia police news release.

Police arrested Troy Daye, 35, on suspicion of kidnapping and a probation violation warrant. The child, 3-year-old Ny-Toria Kelton, was recovered at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Columbia police Sgt. Ken Hammond said the Amber Alert system was critical in recovering the child.

"Through our investigation, we determined the suspect had heard the Amber Alert on the radio," he said.

The victim's mother last saw her daughter when she left her with Daye at 8 a.m. According to the release, she had arranged for Daye to watch Ny-Toria until 4 p.m. when he would pick her mother up from work.

When Daye failed to show up at 4 p.m. the same day, the mother made numerous attempts to contact him, the release stated. She filed a missing person report with the Columbia Police Department at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Hammond said Daye was the mother's boyfriend.

Police issued the Amber Alert at 3:21 p.m. on Saturday, according to the release.

At 8:30 p.m., police were notified that the child had been left at a residence in Columbia, the release stated.

Hammond said the suspect became scared and dropped off the child at the residence. Hammond also said Daye knew the occupant of the residence.

Police found the 1997 Plymouth Breeze they believed Daye was driving shortly after Ny-Toria was recovered.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. Sunday, police took Daye into custody in a north Columbia residence. According to the release, Daye was arrested without any violent altercation.

Daye was being held at the Boone County Jail at press time. Bond for the kidnapping charge is set at $20,000, but no bond has been set for the probation violation charge.

According to a U.S. Justice Department Web site, the Amber Alert system was first nationally coordinated in 2002. Since then, an Amber Alert system has been established in all 50 states.

According to a separate news release issued Monday, an anonymous tip left on the Crime Stoppers hotline provided information that led to Daye's arrest. The Crime Stoppers program offers cash rewards in exchange for information that leads to an arrest in a criminal case.