Case: 5:21-mj-01324-AMK Doc #: 1 Filed: 11/22/21 1 of 1.

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FILED
3:29 pm Nov 22 2021
Clerk U.S. District Court
Northern District of Ohio
Cleveland
5:21MJ1324-AMK

11-22-2021
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AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

I, Matthew F. Komar, Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI), hereinafter referred to as the Affiant, being duly sworn, state that:

1. I am an investigative law enforcement officer of the United States within

the meaning of Section 2510(7) of Title 18, United States Code, as a Special

Agent of the FBI. As such, your Affiant is empowered to conduct investigations

of and to make arrests for offenses enumerated in Title 18, United States Code,

Section 2516.

2. I am a SA with the FBI and served in that capacity since graduating from

the basic agent training program at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia in

2009. I am currently assigned to the Canton Resident Agency, within the

Cleveland Division of the FBI in the Northern District of Ohio. I am presently

assigned to the Stark County Safe Streets Task Force and work narcotics

investigations and other violent crimes. I have participated in investigations of

criminal violations of various federal laws. I have executed search and arrest

warrants, interviewed and interrogated subjects, witnesses, and victims, and

conducted surveillance.

3. The facts contained in this Affidavit are based upon my personal

knowledge of the investigation, in addition to the knowledge, training, experience,

and the observations of other law enforcement officers. All observations and

information referenced below that were not personally made or learned by me

were relayed to me by the persons who made such observations or learned such

information, to include being provided information verbally or in written format.

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4. I am submitting this affidavit in support of a Criminal Complaint and

Arrest Warrant pursuant to the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, including

Rules 3, 4 and 4.1.

BACKGROUND

5. I am an investigator involved in a criminal investigation involving

JONATHAN STINNETT (DOB ;;/;;/1985) (hereinafter, “STINNETT”). I

have reviewed local law enforcement reports, evidence of the described criminal

act, spoken with other investigators regarding, and been directly involved in the

investigation related to a kidnapping by STINNETT. Based on my training and

experience and the facts set forth in this affidavit, there is probable cause to

believe that STINNETT committed a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(a), that is

Kidnapping, Accordingly, this affidavit is presented in support of a criminal

complaint charging that on November 11, 2021, in the Northern District of Ohio,

Eastern Division, and elsewhere, JONATHAN STINNETT did unlawfully and

willfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct, carry away, and hold

A.B. (DOB XX/XX/2016), a five-year-old girl whose identity is known to the

United States, for the purpose of STINNETT’S sexual gratification and of having

A.B.’s exclusive companionship, and in committing or in furtherance of the

commission of the offense, did willfully transport A.B. in interstate commerce

from Ohio to Illinois, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a) and (g).

6. STINNETT and his fiancée, Bonnie Thayer (hereinafter, “Thayer”) live in

the apartment above A.B.’s mother and have babysat A.B. for approximately a

year. Starting in August of 2021, STINNETT and Thayer watched A.B. daily

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after she got off the school bus until A.B.’s mother was home from work.

7. On November 11, 2021, STINNETT and Thayer, asked the mother of

A.B., whose identity is known to law enforcement, if they could take A.B. to the

park and to McDonald’s, as they have done before when babysitting A.B.

STINNETT and Thayer were planning on moving to Michigan the next weekend

and wanted to tell A.B. that they were leaving and would not be able to babysit

her anymore. The mother of A.B. agreed to STINNETT and Thayer taking A.B.

and told them to have her back home by 7:00 P.M.

8. STINNETT and Thayer took A.B. to Jackson North Park and then at

approximately 5:00 P.M. took A.B. to the McDonald’s restaurant located at 5554

Wales Avenue Northwest, Massillon, Ohio, in the Northern District of Ohio,

Eastern Division. Video surveillance from McDonald’s confirmed a Silver Ford

Aerostar van arrived at McDonald’s at approximately 4:57 P.M. At

approximately 4:59 P.M., STINNETT, Thayer and A.B. were observed on video

exiting the Ford Aerostar van and entering McDonald’s. STINNETT is the

registered owner of a 1991 Silver Ford Aerostar van, with Michigan registration

EHL7187. At approximately 5:42 P.M. the Silver Ford Aerostar van departed the

McDonald’s parking lot. At approximately 5:43 P.M. video surveillance from

Goodwill, located at 7257 Fulton Dr NW, Canton, Ohio, showed STINNETT,

Thayer, and A.B. walking into Goodwill 1.

9. In a later interview with law enforcement, Thayer stated that A.B. needed

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Goodwill, located at 7257 Fulton Dr NW, Canton, Ohio, is approximately .1 miles from McDonald’s,
located at 5554 Wales Avenue Northwest, Massillon, Ohio. The Goodwill is just to the east of McDonald’s
in the plaza behind McDonald’s.

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to use the restroom while at Goodwill. Because Goodwill did not have a public

restroom, STINNETT took A.B. back to McDonald’s and told Thayer he would

return. Thayer stated she did not go with STINNETT and A.B. because she has a

bad leg and uses a cane, and did not want to slow them down. At approximately

6:01 P.M., STINNETT and A.B. were seen on surveillance footage exiting

Goodwill. At approximately 6:03 P.M., the Silver Ford Aerostar van was seen on

video parking at McDonald’s. At approximately 6:05 P.M., STINNETT and A.B.

exited McDonalds’s and walked towards the Silver Ford Aerostar van.

JONATHAN STINNETT was seen holding A.B.’s hand while walking with her

to the vehicle. The video then showed the Silver Ford Aerostar van leave the

McDonald’s parking lot.

10. At approximately 7:07 P.M., the mother of A.B. called Thayer and asked

where Thayer and STINNETT were and when they would have A.B. back home.

Thayer told the mother of A.B. that STINNETT took A.B. to use the restroom at

McDonald’s while Thayer remained at Goodwill and that STINNETT and A.B.

had not returned. Thayer indicated she looked in the parking lot and did not see

STINNETT, A.B., or the Silver Ford Aerostar van. Thayer attempted to call and

text message STINNETT, who did not answer the phone nor reply to the text

messages. The mother of A.B. went to Goodwill to look for A.B. and then at

approximately 7:32 P.M. called Jackson Township Police Department to report

A.B. missing.

11. At approximately 8:06 P.M., STINNETT used his debit card at a BP Gas

Station in Danville, Ohio. Investigators obtained video surveillance from the BP

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Gas Station and confirmed STINNETT arrived in the Silver Ford Aerostar van at

approximately 8:03 P.M. STINNETT parked at a gas pump, appeared to use a

card to pay for gas, and then walked into the BP Gas Station. In the BP Gas

Station, STINNETT used the ATM and withdrew $200 at approximately 8:09

P.M.

12. On November 12, 2021, at approximately 7:36 P.M. (Central Standard

Time), McLean County Sheriff’s Department in Bloomington, Illinois, received a

call regarding a suspicious vehicle parked in the area of 8302 East 1200 North

Road, Bloomington, Illinois. Deputies responded to the area and located a Silver

Ford Aerostar van with Michigan registration EHL 7187. The deputies queried

the license plate number through a law enforcement database and found the

vehicle was involved in a possible kidnapping and that there were arrest warrants

for STINNETT for (a) Kidnapping (b) Abduction and (c) Interference with

Custody in Stark County, Ohio. Deputies approached the Silver Ford Aerostar

van, made contact with STINNETT, and observed the juvenile victim sitting in

the vehicle. A.B. appeared frightened. The deputies asked STINNETT who the

child was and STINNETT stated it was “a friend.” Without being asked,

STINNETT further explained that he did not do anything to A.B. STINNETT

was placed in custody without incident and A.B. was taken to a local hospital for

evaluation. The Silver Ford Aerostar van was impounded by the McLean County

Sheriff’s Department.

13. Once placed in custody, STINNETT was advised of his Miranda rights

and transported to the McLean County Sheriff’s Department. A detective from

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McLean County Sheriff’s Department again advised STINNETT of his Miranda

rights. STINNETT nodded that he understood his rights and proceeded talking

with the detective. During the interview, STINNETT stated that he knew A.B.

“for a few months” and explained that STINNETT and Thayer babysat A.B. in

A.B.’s apartment four to five times a week. STINNETT stated that on November

11, 2021, he took A.B. back to McDonald’s in Massillon, Ohio, to use the

restroom there. When they got back in the van, STINNETT asked A.B., “Do you

want to go on an adventure?” A.B. responded, “Yeah.” STINNETT described

the trip as “sightseeing” and said that he did not have a stated destination.

STINNETT stated that he did not make any phone calls after leaving the

McDonald’s. STINNETT explained that he took apart his cellular telephone

because he did not want to deal with Thayer calling him, because she would be

furious with him for making the decision to leave with A.B. STINNETT stated he

activated a new Motorola phone a few days before leaving with A.B. During the

first day after he had taken A.B., A.B. asked STINNETT what they were doing,

and STINNETT told A.B. they were going to go see stuff. At the end of the first

day, A.B. told STINNETT, “I’m missing my mommy.”

14. On August 15, 2021, a child forensic interview was conducted of A.B.

Prior to the interview, the mother of A.B. stated that after A.B. was home, A.B.

disclosed that she had asked STINNETT when she was going home, and

STINNETT told A.B. she will not be going home. During the interview, A.B.

described that she and STINNETT slept in the van on two occasions. A.B. stated

she told STINNETT that she wanted to come home more than once and he did not

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take her home. STINNETT continued driving after A.B. told him she wanted to

go home. A.B. indicated STINNETT did not want to take her home.

15. On November 19, 2021, STINNETT was interviewed by agents of the FBI

after being advised of his Miranda rights. During the interview, STINNETT

disclosed that he planned to “escape” from Ohio and “run away” with A.B.

STINNETT also provided information indicating that his purpose for kidnapping

A.B. was for his own sexual gratification. STINNETT stated he purchased

camping equipment and another cellular telephone prior to taking A.B.

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CONCLUSION

16. Based on the aforementioned facts, I believe there to be probable cause to

believe that JONATHAN STINNETT did unlawfully and willfully seize, confine,

inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct, carry away, and hold A.B. (DOB XX/XX/2016),

a five-year-old girl whose identity is known to the United States, for the purpose

of STINNETT’S sexual gratification and of having A.B.’s exclusive

companionship, and in committing or in furtherance of the commission of the

offense, did willfully transport A.B. in interstate commerce from Ohio to Illinois,

in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1201(a) and (g).

17. I respectfully request that a Criminal Complaint and Arrest Warrant be

issued for JONATHAN STINNETT, (DOB ;;/;;/1985) for the above reference

violation.

Matthew F. Komar
Special Agent
Federal Bureau of Investigation

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO ME THIS 22nd ____ DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2021

VIA TELEPHONE AFTER SUBMISSION BY RELIABLE ELECTRONIC
MEANS. FED. R. CRIM. P. 4.1 AND 41(d)(3).

_________________________________________
JONATHAN D. GREENBERG
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE