Baby rescued after alleged abduction, suspect crashes into Kentucky church

A baby was rescued after an alleged abduction led police on a fast-moving chase from Ohio into northern Kentucky and ended with a crash into a church in Walton. Deputies said the child was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for a checkup, was not injured, and was later reunited with the mother.

Authorities identified the suspect as Brenton Howland, 20, of Xenia, Ohio. Police in Xenia were preparing to issue an Amber Alert after Howland allegedly forced the baby’s mother out of the car on April 14, 2026, and drove away with the infant. Boone County deputies spotted the vehicle shortly after 7 p.m. and pursued it twice before the chase ended in Walton, about 21 miles from Cincinnati and roughly 80 miles from Xenia.

The pursuit came to a violent stop when Howland crashed into the side of Walton United Methodist Church. Newly released dashcam video showed the crash and the moment deputies moved in to rescue the baby. During the chase, Howland allegedly sideswiped a Boone County deputy’s cruiser while trying to pass another vehicle, sending the cruiser into the other car. The deputy suffered minor injuries, while the people in the other vehicle were not hurt.

Police said Howland was taken to the hospital after the crash and is expected to survive. He now faces multiple charges in Boone County, Kenton County and Greene County, with additional Ohio charges expected.

The church sustained relatively minor damage, including a broken window and debris scattered across the yard. The pastor said the building was spared major harm despite the force of the impact. Even so, the scene underscored how quickly a suspected abduction can become a public-safety emergency, with a child, law enforcement officers and bystanders all caught in the path of a high-speed pursuit.

The case also highlights the narrow window investigators face when an infant is taken during a vehicle theft or abduction. In this case, the rapid response stretched from Xenia to Boone County and ended with deputies recovering the baby before the situation turned deadlier.