Man accused of kidnapping woman and her 1-year-old child, police say

TUPELO, Miss. (WMC) - The Tupelo Police Department announced the arrest of a man in connection with the kidnapping of a mother and her child. The incident occurred on March 26, when Horn Lake Officers were called to a grocery store on Hwy 51 North following reports of a physical altercation between a man and a woman in the parking lot.

Upon arrival, witnesses informed the officers that it appeared a woman was trying to escape from a white Lexus, where the suspect, Izaya Kutschinski, was restraining her. Video footage obtained by investigators confirmed that the woman was being held against her will, as she screamed for help while Kutschinski forcefully kept her in the vehicle. The situation escalated when he threw her into the car, and they drove off in the direction of Memphis, Tenn.

Further investigation revealed that the woman's 1-year-old child was also present in the car during this alarming kidnapping. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, police reached out to various agencies along the I-22 corridor to locate Kutschinski and the vehicle.

Law enforcement efforts proved successful when the driver was spotted in Tupelo and attempted to flee but was apprehended without incident. Fortunately, both the female victim and her child were found safe in Memphis, Tenn.

Izaya Kutschinski now faces two counts of kidnapping and one count of simple domestic assault following the incident. The authorities continue to investigate the case to ensure justice is served.