A Gary man is in custody after being charged with multiple felonies related to the alleged kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl and her father as they visited the childhood home of Michael Jackson.
“It’s a crazy feeling because nothing like that has happened in this area,” said Lathaniel Staten, who has lived on the block of the Jacksons’ house for 30 years.
The suspect, 69-year-old Oasia Barnes, faces 16 felony counts, including kidnapping, criminal confinement, armed robbery, and rape, according to court records.
The brutal attack began outside of Jackson’s childhood home, Gary’s most prominent tourist attraction. The house, located just behind Gary’s historic Roosevelt High School, is a point of pride for the community, making the recent crime all the more startling for its neighbors.
Prosecutors said Barnes approached the man and his daughter on Aug. 9 while they were taking photos outside Jackson’s childhood home at 2300 Jackson St. Barnes allegedly shoved a gun into the girl’s abdomen, and demanded money. Despite being given nearly $300 cash, he forced both the man and the teen at gunpoint into a vehicle, directing the man to drive to an alley behind an abandoned house, police said.
Once there, Barnes exited the vehicle with the juvenile, ordering the father to stay in the car while threatening him at gunpoint. The girl later told police that Barnes led her into nearby woods and forced her to perform sexual acts. The ordeal ended later that day when police discovered them at a residence in the 2200 block of Washington Street, about a half mile from the Jackson family home, thanks to surveillance technology and community tips.
Gary Police Chief Derrick Cannon commended the swift actions of his department and their collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
“I am proud of the responsiveness shown by the Gary Police Department, who worked closely with the FBI and Lake County Sheriff’s Office to rapidly locate and arrest this depraved criminal in less than six hours,” Cannon said. “I also commend the members of the public who answered the call to help find the missing victim and bring her to safety. This is what coming together as a community looks like.”
If convicted, Barnes could face up to 300 years in prison.
“The charges should send a clear message,” Cannon added. “In Gary, if you engage in criminal activity, we will take every legal measure to ensure you face the maximum penalty under the law.”
Mayor Eddie Melton said he was “devastated” by the “horrific” crime.
“My heart goes out to the victim and her family. As mayor, my primary goal is to make Gary a safe place for all. This isolated incident does not reflect who we are as a community,” Melton said. “I commend the citizens for their vigilance. Thanks to their help, law enforcement was able to locate the victim in less than six hours. We will continue to support our law enforcement officials as they work towards prosecuting this perpetrator.”
Looking ahead, Staten said he hopes that the city or Gary police will enhance safety measures to protect the residents who live in the area every day. Visitors from around the world come day and night to see the Jackson home.
“They need to do something to make sure we have safety,” Staten said, referring to his neighborhood. “Other people come and go from the house. … We live here. We’re here for good.”
Staten suggested that increased police patrols could make a difference.
“We can’t afford to let this happen again. If people think it’s possible, it could happen again.”