Abducted infant found safe; mother arrested in case

A 5-month-old boy allegedly abducted by his parents from Child Protective Services was found unharmed on Saturday, according to the Vancouver Police Department. The child’s mother was placed under arrest.

A bulletin from police said Jaxon Smith and his mother, Summer Smith, were found Saturday at a residence on West 19th Street in Vancouver. Smith, 36, was arrested on outstanding warrants after an interview with detectives.

A man at the residence from which the infant was originally taken, John N. Maxwell, 49, also was arrested on outstanding warrants Saturday. The child’s father, Kasey McKernan, 31, is still outstanding.

Jaxon Smith had been ordered into the custody of Washington Child Protective Services on Nov. 27. However, during the custody transfer, McKernan assaulted an agency employee and snatched the infant, police said.

Police arrested Michael Grant Fuller, 33, for allegedly aiding the couple. During the investigation, police also arrested seven others on outstanding warrants and drug-related charges.

Detectives are continuing the investigation and also anticipate additional arrests related to suspects who assisted in hiding Jaxon from law enforcement, the bulletin said.

This investigation is being conducted by the Vancouver Police Department Major Crimes Unit, the Vancouver Police Neighborhood Response Team, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.