Kinston mother charged after child found on Highway 70 twice in one day

On October 5, 2026, at approximately 3:10 a.m., Kinston Police Department D-Squad officers responded to the 4700 block of Highway 70 West after a truck driver located a 6-year-old child walking in the area.

Officers arrived, took custody of the child, and transported him to the Kinston Police Department. Officers began checking nearby hotels and located the child’s mother, 36-year-old Capresha Jones.

Officers transported Jones to the police department, where she was reunited with her child. Jones was issued a citation for Misdemeanor Child Abuse. Officers also provided her with information on resources available through the Department of Social Services and registered the child with KPD’s Project Safe and Sound program.

Later that same day, at approximately 9:58 p.m., KPD A-Squad officers responded again to the 4700 block of Highway 70 West after receiving another report of a child on the highway.

Officers responded to the area near Pinelawn Cemetery and met with the caller, who reported that he had nearly struck the child before stopping and getting him to safety.

Officers quickly realized this was the same 6-year-old child they had located approximately 19 hours earlier.

DSS was contacted and responded to the Kinston Police Department to assist. During the investigation, officers made contact with Jones in the Highway 70 West area, where she was arrested without incident.

Officers worked with DSS to locate the child’s father, and he responded to take custody of him.

Capresha Jones was placed in the Lenoir County Jail without bond on charges related to the second incident:

• Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile

• Misdemeanor Child Abuse