Prosecutors charge man in child abduction case

Prosecutors are now charging a man with helping to conceal a mother who was hiding from authorities with her son in a crawl space.

Court documents say Woodrow Ziegler, 41, covered a hidden crawlspace from investigators by nailing a piece of paneling over the crawlspace’s entryway. Investigators say Ziegler also hung a decorative rug on the wall over the paneling and moved a desk and chair in front of the crawlspace, in order to keep authorities from finding Aubrey Ferguson, 30, and her six-year-old son, Braedence Jones, who were hiding inside. Court documents say Ziegler is not allowed to have contact with Jones due to a court order.

Jones was reported missing in August of 2018. Ferguson is now charged with child abduction in Camden County for allegedly taking Jones from his father. A news release by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office said additional charges are being sought in Laclede and Camden counties against Ferguson.

In documents charging Ferguson with a crime, she allegedly accused the boy’s father, Ryan Jones, of beating the boy. There are currently no pending charges for child abuse or any other crime against a Ryan Jones in Missouri’s 26th Judicial Circuit which includes Camden, LaClede and three other counties.

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