Kidnapped child’s remains found buried in the woods as father and female companion arrested

Ronnell Marquese Jones (left) and Kristie Dora (right) are facing parental kidnapping charges in Missouri - (KSDK)

The remains of a young child have been discovered buried in rural woodland as the father and a female companion were arrested on parental kidnapping charges.

The child, who has not been identified, was found Wednesday in a wooded area in Stookey Township, Illinois, about 16 miles southeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Authorities had received a tip earlier this week, Mitch McCoy, director of public affairs and information at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, told The Independent.

Officials believe the remains are connected to a parental kidnapping case originating in St. Louis and Desloge, Missouri, involving two parents.

The child’s mother told police in June that she had not seen her child since April 2024, and had reported her child missing that year.

The mother also told police that the child’s father, Ronnell Marquese Jones, refused to allow her to see the child. She last saw the child with missing teeth, KPTV reported.

The mother told police that the child’s father, Ronnell Marquese Jones, (pictured) refused to allow her to see the child (St. Francois County Sheriff's Department)

Jones gave multiple conflicting accounts of the child’s whereabouts, according to a police statement made by the mother. He told her the child was with the state but later said that he dropped the child off with an Amish community in Mississippi.

However, at the time, Jones refused to provide information that would help authorities locate the missing child in Mississippi, according to the statement.

Jones, 32, and Kristie Dora, 35, who are both from St. Louis, are facing parental kidnapping charges in connection with the case, the Desloge Police Department said.

Jones was arrested June 30 and Dora was arrested July 2. Both are being held without bond.

Kristie Dora, 35, of St. Louis, is facing parental kidnapping charges in connection to the case, police said (St. Francois County Sheriff's Department)

It was not immediately clear what relationship Dora has to Jones or the deceased child. Authorities did not share any other details about the deceased child.

The child’s remains were sent to the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office in Illinois. Due to the condition, an autopsy will be needed to determine the cause of death and positively identify the child.

The investigation involved numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department told The Independent they expect to hold a news conference on the case late Thursday but had not set a time.