Abducted Columbia County children found safe, parents arrested

COLUMBIA COUNTY — UPDATE | April 1 · 1:41 PM

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has located two young children believed to have been abducted by their parents.

Officials say the brother and sister were located at a motel in Suwannee County. The children’s biological parents, David Evans and Sydni Jones, were both arrested.

“We are very grateful for the outcome of this case,” said Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter. “I would like to commend our team of detectives, along with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, FDLE, federal law enforcement partners, and local community for helping to bring this case to a quick and safe conclusion.”

This is a developing story. Action News Jax will update this article as more information becomes available.

UPDATE | April 1 · 10:10 AM

In a breaking development, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office tells Action News Jax that that previously reported Dodge Stratus is not the vehicle being driven by two parents wanted in the abduction of their two young children.

Investigators say more information will be provided to the public as soon as a correct vehicle is identified.

The AMBER ALERT is still active.

Read more on this story below.

UPDATE | March 31 · 10:45 PM

Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued an AMBER Alert for 4-year-old Jaxon Evans, and 2-year-old Lucy Evans.

Click here for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Amber Alert

The children were last seen on Southwest Birch Place in Lake City, FDLE said.

They may be traveling in a silver Dodge Stratus, with a Florida license plate number IS08VN.

Jaxon was last seen wearing an orange t-shirt and Lucy was wearing a black t-shirt.

Abductor David Evans, was last seen wearing a blue shirt with tan pants, and Abductor Sydni Jones was in a black shirt with denim pants.

David Evans has a blonde goatee beard.

If you have any information on their whereabouts, contact FDLE at 1-888-356-4774 or the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at 386-752-7015, or 911.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Two children have been abducted by their parents in Columbia County, authorities say.

The suspects, also the children’s parents, Sydni Jones, 23 and David Evans, 24 have active warrants for their arrest relating to this case.

Their children are Jaxon Evans, 4 and Lucy Evans, 2.

The sheriff’s office said the abduction happened around 5:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Action News Jax has reached out to Columbia County Sheriff’s Office to get more information on where they were last seen.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call detectives at 386-752-7015.

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An AMBER Alert was issued overnight for two missing Columbia County children. 2-year-old Lucy Evans and 4-year-old Jaxon Evans were last seen Wednesday on Southwest Birch Place in Lake City. Deputies say they are believed to have been taken by their parents, David Evans and Sydni Jones., who do not have custody of the children. (Columbia County Sheriff's Office)

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