In a swift turn of events that eased fears across Louisiana, authorities canceled an AMBER Alert early Wednesday for 2-year-old Christopher Cooper, who had been abducted from a rest stop in Tangipahoa Parish. The boy, described as a light-skinned Black child with short black hair and brown eyes, standing just 3 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 45 pounds, was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday in the back of a white 2011 GMC Yukon heading south on Interstate 55 near Kentwood.
Indeed, the situation unfolded quickly and alarmingly. Christopher's mother had pulled over at the welcome center with 49-year-old James Mercier, a white man from McComb, Mississippi, measuring 5 feet 9 inches and about 160 pounds. As she stepped out to get her son, Mercier allegedly sped off with the toddler inside, leaving her stranded. He was last spotted without a shirt but carrying a white or gray one, dressed in black pants. The vehicle bore Mississippi plates PJT070. Police issued the alert just over an hour later, at 10:45 p.m., urging the public to be on the lookout.
However, by around 6 a.m. the next morning, deputies located Christopher unharmed, sleeping peacefully in the abandoned SUV at a parking lot in the Kentwood area. Mercier faces charges of aggravated kidnapping, a serious accusation that underscores the potential danger of the brief ordeal. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed the child was safe and reunited with his family, though details on Mercier's motive remain murky—investigators say there are still many questions lingering.
Moreover, this incident highlights the vulnerabilities at interstate rest areas, where travelers might least expect such threats. The rapid response from law enforcement, including state police and local deputies, prevented what could have escalated into tragedy. Yet, as the dust settles, one can't help but wonder about the circumstances that led a seemingly routine trip to veer into such peril.