12-Year-Old Girl Reports Attempted Kidnapping at Austell Bus Stop; Suspect Arrested

A 12-year-old girl is safe after bravely reporting an attempted kidnapping that occurred on Monday, May 5th, at her school bus stop on Riverside Parkway in Austell.

The young girl disclosed the incident to a school counselor, prompting a response from Cobb County Police Crimes Against Children Detectives. Following a forensic interview where the juvenile provided a detailed description of the suspect and their vehicle, detectives were able to quickly identify the suspect vehicle.

The Cobb County Police VIPER Unit located and stopped the vehicle, identifying the driver as 39-year-old Seron D. Kennedy of Mableton. Kennedy was transported to the Special Victims Unit for questioning. After the interview, he was arrested and charged with Attempted Kidnapping (O.C.G.A. 16-5-40).

The investigation into the attempted kidnapping remains ongoing. The Cobb County Police Department is urging anyone with additional information related to this case to contact the Crimes Against Children Unit at 770-801-3470.

In light of this incident, the Cobb County Police Department is also encouraging parents to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of their children, including having open conversations about safety, teaching safety procedures, remaining vigilant about their children’s whereabouts, and promptly reporting any suspicious activity to local authorities.