UPDATE: Police find missing 5-year-old boy deceased; mother tossed off cliff; family acquaintance in custody

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Kentucky State Police is investigating the kidnapping and assault of a Jackson County woman and the death of her young son.

According to police, on Saturday morning at approximately 10:45, Kentucky State Police and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office responded to an injured female, Jessica Durham, who was found by hikers at the bottom of an 80-foot cliff. She and her son, five-year-old James Spoonamore, were assaulted and kidnapped by 41-year-old Lonnie Belt, of McKee, a family acquaintance.

Durham told police that she last saw her son with Belt before she was allegedly forced over the cliff by Belt. She was transported to University of Kentucky Medical Center for serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Police said a multiple-agency search immediately ensued for James Spoonamore with hundreds of volunteers. The search involved helicopters from KSP and the National Guard, riders on horseback, K-9 units and volunteers searching on foot.

KSP, also searching for Belt, located the suspect at 1:39 Saturday afternoon. He was taken into custody at 11:30 Saturday night, and lodged in the Jackson County Detention Center where he’s been charged with assault, two counts of kidnapping and tampering with physical evidence. He’s being held on a $500,000 bond.

The search for Spoonamore went into Sunday and Monday when his body was found Monday morning at about 9:30 in the area of Sparks Ridge Road and Turkey Foot Road, in Jackson County. His body has been taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Frankfort for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Authorities said investigators are conferring with prosecutors to determine additional charges against Belt related to Spoonamore’s death, which are forthcoming.

The investigation is ongoing and being led by Kentucky State Police.