In a rescue operation on November 3, 2023, the Tontitown Police Department in Arkansas saved a 5-year-old girl concealed in a secret part of a closet. The child was found in the house of John Thompson, her father.
The rescue, recorded on a police bodycam, exposed the child’s dire living conditions. Thompson is now facing charges of child endangerment and violating court-ordered custody.
The police’s bodycam footage, which has been made public, shows officers discovering the girl while executing a search warrant at Thompson’s residence. The operation was part of a collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, aimed at enforcing a custody court order. Initially, Thompson, 40, denied having the child in his home.
The discovery ensued after prolonged questioning, with Thompson eventually guiding the officers to the concealed space following a 30-minute dialogue. Sounds from behind a closet wall led to the revelation of the secret compartment, after Thompson moved boxes and a nailed board, uncovering the hidden space where the girl was located. Police reported that it was a triangularly shaped space from 6-8 feet wide, tapering to 2-4 feet.
The child, found in the small, sealed area, was physically unharmed but showed signs of emotional distress. She was immediately taken into protective custody. The full extent of her time in the compartment and the reasons for her confinement are still under investigation, but the police report and Thompson’s arrest point to serious child welfare violations.
Thompson’s motive for hiding his daughter was to evade social services. He is now facing first-degree child endangerment and interference with court-ordered custody charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The case continues to be investigated, with more details expected as the legal process unfolds. The incident has drawn considerable attention, emphasizing the critical role of law enforcement and child protective services in the protection of children. The coordinated efforts of the Tontitown Police and the Department of Human Services were instrumental in the successful rescue.
Detective Keith Lindley mentioned that at the time of this arrest, Thompson was already out on bond for a methamphetamine-related charge.