For Immediate Release 

Kidnapping To Facilitate Felony or Flight

On January 12, 2023, a report was made to Scott County Child Protection that a juvenile had been brought to an emergency room with injuries.  After speaking with the parents, 28-year-old Zachariah Christopher Whitehead and 28-year-old Amanda Wamack, Child Protection wanted the juvenile placed on a safety hold, in the care of a family member until further tests and interviews could be conducted due to the nature of the injury and age of the infant.  The juvenile was placed under the care of the grandmother.

On January 17, 2023, it was reported that Whitehead and Wamack had taken the juvenile on the evening of January 16, 2023 and left town.  Child Protection also reported that the grandmother recently rescinded her role as the caregiver for the state, as she did not agree with the terms of the care of the juvenile.

The Savage Police Department along with the assistance of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was able to determine the Whiteheads vehicle was last seen pulling a U-Haul trailer in both St. Paul and then Chicago, during the late hours of January 16, 2023. 

The vehicle was later located on the 300 block of Tangley Way, in Lexington, Kentucky.  Officers from the Lexington Police Department verified that the suspects were inside and attempted to make contact; the suspects refused to exit the home. After 6 hours of negotiations, the suspects were taken into custody and arrested on felony kidnapping warrants.

The kidnapping victim, a 7-week-old infant, was safely removed from the home and treated by emergency personnel as a precaution before being placed into protective custody.

“We are very thankful for the safety of the infant. We are also very appreciative of our detectives for the long hours that were spent behind the scenes, the assistance of agents from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the support that we received from the members of the Lexington Kentucky Police Department for a safe outcome”.