AMBER Alert canceled after children found safe, suspect tied to homicide
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
An AMBER alert was canceled Monday afternoon after two children were found safe.
Law enforcement took Malang Jan Akbari in custody around 1:40 p.m. after he was accused of taking two children after killing their mother.
MSHP Troop A spokesperson Justin Ewing told ABC 17 News the suspect was taken into custody in Pettis County after being stopped near Highway 50 west of Route TT. The vehicle was found using FLOCK cameras.
Akbari is accused of taking two children, a one-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, from 1115 E. McCarty St.
The MSHP alert said Akbari left with the children from Southwood Hills in Cole County.
The alert was issued at 1:16 p.m. on Monday, but the abduction happened at noon.
Jefferson City Police are investigating the homicide.
AMBER ALERT 2026-1 WEA: JEFFERSON CITY BLUE 2015 HONDA ODYSSEY MO PLATE JJ6M8C Updates will be posted as they are known. Refresh this page or click the following link to ensure that you are viewing the latest alert information: https://t.co/UoXX3KdhG2
— Missouri State Highway Patrol Alerts (@MSHPAlerts) January 12, 2026
This is a developing story.
