Stranger posing as family member kidnaps 13-year-old from school, MO cops say
A man kidnapped a 13-year-old girl from her middle school by pretending he was a relative, Missouri authorities say.
But the man, identified by the Florissant Police Department as 43-year-old James Paulette, was not a family member. The victim’s father told KSDK he’s a “complete stranger.”
“We don’t know this man, and as far as we know, our daughter doesn’t know him either,” Jermaine Thomas told KSDK.
Just after 11 a.m. on Sept. 23, officials at Cross Keys Middle School contacted a school resource officer when the child’s parent called them “concerned about their child’s whereabouts,” police said.
An investigation revealed Paulette was at the school at 7:35 that morning. He claimed he was a relative of the 13-year-old and said she needed to be checked out because there was a death in the family, according to a criminal complaint.
The school allowed the girl to leave with Paulette, police said — a situation that left her mother searching for answers even after she was found safe.
“I can keep her safe at home, so why can’t the school?” Wendi Thomas told KSDK. “They didn’t follow the steps that they were supposed to have followed. They failed my daughter.”
Paulette took the girl to his nearby home in Jennings and said he played video games with her, police said. He was identified through surveillance footage at the school, which captured his vehicle and license plate number, the complaint said.
By the time officers converged on Paulette’s home at 1:30 p.m., he had been with the 13-year-old for six hours, according to a criminal complaint.
Paulette was taken into custody and charged with kidnapping, court records show. He admitted to not being a relative of the girl, according to police.
Wendi Thomas told KSDK her daughter was checked out at a hospital.
“I’m still ... a nervous wreck, like I’m trying to hold it together, but it’s very emotional,” she told the station. “It’s scary not knowing where your daughter is. I would never wish this on any parent.”
The Ferguson-Florissant School District said the “prompt actions” of students and staff led to the girl’s safe reunion with her family, KMOV reported.
According to the school district’s policy, students should only be released from school to their parent or legal guardian “or designee of the parent/guardian or to other individuals or agencies as permitted or required by law.” Anyone requesting a student to be released is required to “present proper identification.”
“We are actively investigating this matter and will take the necessary steps to ensure the appropriate level of accountability and support,” the district told KMOV. “In the meantime, we want to reiterate our commitment to student safety and security, while also ensuring that all District safety protocols are followed.”
Florissant is about a 20-mile drive northwest from St. Louis.
This story was originally published September 29, 2025 at 12:26 PM with the headline "Stranger posing as family member kidnaps 13-year-old from school, MO cops say."