For Immediate Release Contact: Lt. Brian Phillips
December 5, 2018 blphillips@lafayette.in.gov
(765) 807-1224
Lafayette Police Investigate Kidnapping
On December 5, 2018 at 6:18am the Lafayette Police Department responded to 2014 Bridgewater Circle apartment A for a reported kidnapping. It was reported to police by 33 year old Jeremiah Allen Hendricks that 27 year old Shatarra A. Triplett had been kidnapped. Hendricks reported to police that he had received a phone call demanding a ransom, and then proceeded to the Bridgewater Circle address to check on Triplett along with the children living there. Hendricks and Triplett share an infant child in common, and the child resides with Triplett at the Bridgewater address.
Upon arrival police located the infant child, along with three other children belonging to Triplett inside of the residence. Triplett was not present nor were any other adults. The children ranged in age from an infant to eleven and appeared to be in good health. Over the course of the day, Lafayette Police Detectives, agents from the FBI, and investigators with the Tippecanoe County Prosecutors Office High Tech Crimes Unit investigated the kidnapping.
Leads developed throughout the investigation led investigators to a location in Illinois. Triplett was located by the FBI at approximately 9:30pm, and was safe. The FBI took Randy K Smith, age 24 into custody. Further investigation is ongoing.
Lieutenant Brian Phillips
Community Outreach & Crime Prevention