Insets, from left: Ronnell Marquese Jones and Kirstie Dora (St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department). Background: News footage from Stookey Township, Illinois, where a child’s remains were discovered (KMOV).
A Missouri man remains behind bars after authorities said the remains of a child were discovered in a neighboring state.
Ronnell Marquese Jones, 32, and Kirstie Dora, 35, were both arrested and charged with parental kidnapping and harassment as part of an investigation into a missing boy. Court records reviewed by Law&Crime identify Jones as the child’s biological father and allege he had refused to allow the boy’s mother to see him since April 2024. The mother reported her son missing later that year.
The boy’s mother told investigators with the Desloge Police Department that when she last saw her son, he was inside Jones’ vehicle and appeared to be missing teeth. Jones then allegedly left Missouri with the child.
Police said Jones gave conflicting accounts about where his son was. At one point, he allegedly claimed the boy was in state custody. In another account, authorities said, Jones claimed he had taken the child to an Amish community in Mississippi and would “go to visit him.” Investigators said Jones has not cooperated with law enforcement.
Witnesses also told police they had reason to believe the child was dead.
An arrest warrant for Jones on suspicion of parental kidnapping and harassment was issued June 12. He was taken into custody on June 30, while Dora was arrested on the same charges on July 2. Police have not released details about the relationship between Jones and Dora.
Jones had been scheduled for a bond hearing, but Desloge police said Thursday that a child’s remains had been found in Stookey Township, Illinois, roughly 16 miles from St. Louis, Missouri, where both defendants live. The child has not yet been identified, but Desloge police said the discovery is connected to Jones’ parental kidnapping case.
Court documents for Jones’ case stated that “in light of new information,” he should be held without bond. Dora is also being held without bond. Neither defendant has been charged in connection with the child’s death.
Both Jones and Dora are in custody at the St. Francois County Jail. Jones is scheduled to appear in court on July 16. Case information for Dora was not available.
