New documents show the suspect in a 2016 kidnapping case that ended up with the 7-year-old victim safe in the arms of Jacksonville police abused another victim to the point he had to have surgery.
According to the arrest warrant, Jason Hayling, 44, told that victim he’d kill him if he told anyone about the abuse.
Officers said the case started unfolding last December, but the story really starts two years ago.
“I didn’t think he was going to find him alive, to tell the truth, I didn’t think he was going to be alive,” said the 7-year-old victim’s grandmother, Dororthy Schreiber.
Friday, we heard from the victim’s family for the first time about the alleged abduction and molestation.
“I didn’t think [police were] going to find him alive, to tell the truth, I didn’t think he was going to be alive.”
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) April 6, 2018
At 5: @ActionNewsJax is hearing from the kidnapping victim’s family for the first time. They’re happy to see his alleged kidnapper locked up. pic.twitter.com/E4gDZlEv4x
“I had tape, and he goes ‘No, gGrandma!’ I said ‘What?’ He said, ‘I don’t want that tape!’ I said, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘That man tied my mouth, hands and legs up,'” Schreiber said. “You don’t know what I wanted to do.”
Also - Friday, local police -- along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FBI -- announced they were able to connect the cases together and bring charges against Hayling.
“[The 7-year-old victim] said ‘That man tied my mouth, hands and legs up.’ You don’t know what I wanted to do.”
— Russell Colburn (@RussellANjax) April 6, 2018
“He can rot in hell. I don’t care.”
Shocking new details of the abuse case that led investigators to Jason Hayling, 44, on @ActionNewsJax at 6. pic.twitter.com/YdWim8gj3z
The FDLE said investigators drew strength from the young victim.
“I can tell you he’s a fighter, and he was really a strong part of the reason we continued to fight because we saw that fire in him and we wouldn’t give up for him and his family,” said FDLE Special Agent in Charge Mark Perez.
The boy’s family had a message for Hayling.
“He can rot in hell,” Schreiber said.
Hayling will face sexual battery charges in Duval County, before being taken back to Madison, where he's charged with capital sexual battery and kidnapping.
Cox Media Group