Sister of kidnapped Indianapolis siblings gets probation

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Indianapolis woman whose two teenage siblings were kidnapped and held for ransom won’t serve any jail time for her involvement in the case.

Marion Superior Court Judge Shatrese Flowers sentenced 29-year-old Whitney Blackwell 1½ years on probation Tuesday and ordered her subject to random drug testing after Blackwell pleaded guilty to a felony drug possession charge.

Authorities say Blackwell’s 16-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister were kidnapped in March 2015 by her ex-boyfriend, John Thomas. Authorities say the two were living together in Detroit before she stole money and drugs from him and fled to Indianapolis.

Detroit police freed the boy found in an SUV. The girl was dropped off at a Dayton, Ohio, restaurant and given $200 to take a cab back to Indianapolis.

Charges remain pending against Thomas.