NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A 37-year-old Mt. Juliet woman has been arrested after investigators say she helped kidnapping suspect, Jacob Clare, obtain the vehicle he used to drive to California.
Sumner County District Attorney Ray Whitley confirmed to NewsChannel 5 that Marissa Henson is charged with criminal responsibility for facilitation of a felony here in Tennessee.
Jacob "Jake" Clare is facing charges including kidnapping and seven chargessurrounding the sexual abuse of a minor. He is facing a maximum sentence of 14 years and 4 months in prison for the California charges. He was additionally charged with kidnapping in Tennessee and Kentucky.
General Whitley said Henson is accused of helping Clare obtain the vehicle he used to drive with the children to California.
According to an affidavit, Henson met with Clare at Opry Mills in October, and he told her he was going to run off with a young family member. He also allegedly said he was going to take his 3-year-old son with him so the mother could no longer see the child.
The affidavit said Henson told Clare all the borders were closed and he could only get out of the country by Mexico or Canada — and Clare then asked Henson to help him find a car.
She is accused of helping him get the Subaru and driving Clare to Smyrna to buy the vehicle. Then, they allegedly drove to her home, where Clare loaded up the Subaru with clothing and camping gear.
Investigators said Clare removed bumper stickers from the car and tinted the windows before driving the vehicle to California with the children.
Police interviewed Henson, who admitted to her involvement and "was very sorry" for getting involved, the affidavit said.
Investigators are also still looking to see if anyone else helped Clare during his time on the run en route to California from Tennessee.
Clare is currently being held on no bail at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana, California. It’s not clear yet if he will be prosecuted first in California or will return to Tennessee to face the kidnapping charge.
Henson will be prosecuted in Sumner County.
