CLAYTON, Mo. – A St. Louis County man is accused of taking a girl from her school Tuesday morning.
According to the Florissant Police Department’s probable cause statement, the kidnapping happened just after 7:30 a.m. at Cross Keys Middle School.
Police said James E. Paulette, 43, went to the school, claimed to be a family member, and told school officials there was a death in the victim’s family.
The school allowed Paulette to check the 13-year-old victim out and leave with him, police said.
Later that morning, a school counselor contacted the victim’s mother after learning the child had been checked out. After realizing what had happened, the school contacted police.
Investigators used school surveillance videos to identify Paulette’s vehicle, and additional records to learn who the vehicle belonged to.
By 1:30 p.m., police tracked Paulette to his residence and found the victim inside. Police said Paulette admitted he was not a relative and told officers he checked her out of school so he could play video games at his home.
On Wednesday, the Ferguson-Florissant School District sent an email to families in the district to explain what had happened:
Dear Ferguson-Florissant Community,
We would like to bring to your attention a recent incident that occurred at Cross Keys Middle School. An individual falsely identified themself as a family member of a student who needed to pick them up due to a death in the family. The student was released but is now safe as a result of prompt actions by District students, staff, and the Florissant Police Department. The individual has been formally charged and is in police custody.
We are actively investigating this matter and will take the necessary steps to ensure the appropriate level of accountability and support. In the meantime, we want to reiterate our commitment to student safety and security, while also ensuring that all District safety protocols are followed.
Thank you to our students, staff, and community for your prompt actions that resulted in the safe return of our student.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Paulette with one count of child kidnapping. Paulette remains jailed on a $500,000 cash-only bond. Online records do not indicate when he’ll appear in court.
Police said Paulette has two prior convictions in St. Louis City for possession and criminal possession of a firearm. At the time of the kidnapping, Paulette was on federal supervised release for a March 2018 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was released in September 2022.
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