Kidnapping Suspect Appears in Federal Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office May 03, 2013 |
JACKSON, MS—Shamaruis Ruffin, 25, and Wanda Faye Dancy, 51, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Ball today pursuant to a criminal complaint charging her with kidnapping, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and FBI Special Agent in Charge Daniel McMullen.
The court found that Ruffin and Dancy should be detained pending a preliminary hearing and a detention hearing scheduled for May 9, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
According to the complaint, on May 2, 2013, Ruffin was asked by Jesse Mae Brown Pollard if she would ride with her and babysit for her. Ruffin agreed to do so.
Pollard drove to the East Kemper Elementary School. Ruffin overheard Pollard talking to Wanda Dancy on the telephone (Dancy is a secretary at East Kemper Elementary School). Ruffin heard Dancy telling Pollard where the victim was located in the school and what she was wearing. Ruffin was told to go to the library in the school and tell Mrs. Simmons that she was there to get the victim and that “Mrs. Wanda said it was all right.” Ruffin did as she was directed. On the way out of the school, Ruffin passed by the office, and Dancy waved at her and smiled. Ruffin and the victim got into the vehicle with Pollard and drove away.
Ruffin, Pollard, and the victim drove down several roads in Alabama. At some point, Ruffin wanted to get out of the car, so they stopped, and Ruffin got out of the vehicle. Ruffin contacted an acquaintance to pick her up. The acquaintance picked Ruffin up somewhere near Interstate 20/59 East of Livingston, Alabama, and Ruffin returned home.
The penalty for kidnapping is a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Kemper County Sheriff’s Office, and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in this case.
The public is reminded that a criminal complaint is an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.