Bryans Road, MD – On December 19 at approximately 8:35 a.m., an eight-year-old student at J.C. Parks Elementary School was near his bus stop in a residential neighborhood on Hard Bargain Circle and Montrose Road when a woman in a white Chevrolet Malibu stopped and asked him to get into her car. The child initially declined but then he complied.

The woman, later identified as Krystal Ninette Clay, 64, of Bryans Road, drove a short distance and stopped in the middle of Chapman’s Landing Road in Bryans Road. She then began searching for her phone. At that moment, a local resident, who had noticed the vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway, approached the car to investigate. Upon nearing the vehicle, the woman observed the child crying. Concerned, she asked if the boy was okay. The child replied that he was not and needed help.

The concerned woman immediately called 9-1-1. Officers arrived at the scene, and after further investigation, it was determined that the driver and the child did not know each other and there was no reason for the woman to pick the child up. The driver claimed she had picked the child up to give him a ride to school. As a result, Clay was arrested on the scene. The child, who was not injured, was safely reunited with a parent. Clay has been charged with abduction of a child under 12, a felony.

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) urges parents to speak with their children about the importance of not getting into cars with strangers. Below are a few safety tips to share with children:

  • Always ask for permission: Before getting into a car with someone, children should ask an adult or trusted person for permission.
  • Stay alert and aware: If a stranger offers a ride, walk away and seek help from a trusted adult or public space.
  • Know who to trust: Teach children to recognize safe people, like school staff or law enforcement, who can help in an emergency.
  • Trust your instincts: If something feels wrong, children should run to a safe place and contact a trusted adult or call 9-1-1.

The CCSO also encourages the public to report suspicious activity. As demonstrated in this case, the quick action of a local resident helped ensure the child’s safety and led to the timely arrest of the suspect.

The woman’s intent is unclear at this time and there have been no similar reports. The CCSO is asking anyone with additional information to call Officer K. Bottorf at 301-609-3282 ext. 0605. The investigation is continuing.

Krystal Clay

The CCSO was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in 2001 and has since earned the highest rating of Excellence. Established in 1658, the CCSO is one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States. For more information, visit www.ccso.us.

Charles County Crime Solvers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest or indictment of a person responsible for a crime in Charles County. All individuals who provide tips through Crime Solvers will remain anonymous. Anyone with information about an unsolved crime or the location of a fugitive may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS. Tips can also be submitted online at www.charlescountycrimesolvers.com or by using the P3Intel mobile app, which can be found in the Android Store and Apple Store by searching P3tips. For more information about the P3 program, click on this link: www.p3intel.com.