Woman arrested on kidnaping charge in child's disappearance

A Westwego woman has been accused of kidnapping after she is alleged to have taken her child from a Morgan City home.

Jamie Lynn Ruffin, 47, was arrested at 8:15 a.m. Thursday on charges of simple kidnapping and interfering with child custody and on a warrant alleging domestic abuse battery, the Morgan City Police Department said.

Ruffin is described by police as the child's non-custodial parent.

Late Wednesday, police began investigating the disappearance of an 11-year-old male taken from the home of his legal guardian by the non-custodial parent, Jamie Ruffin, police said.

According to reports, Ruffin had come by the home to visit with the child. However, Ruffin left with the juvenile without the consent of the legal guardian. Descriptions of both Ruffin and the juvenile male were given out to all local agencies and media outlets, police said.

On Thursday, investigators with the Morgan City Police Department Detective Division received a tip about the possible location of Ruffin. That information along with video surveillance led Investigators to a local hotel located on La. 182 in Morgan City. Both Ruffin and the juvenile were in one of the rooms at the hotel, police said.

Ruffin was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.

The juvenile was found to be unharmed and was returned to his legal guardian.