West Tennessee man taken into custody as possible suspect to homicide investigation

JACKSON, Tenn. — The investigation continues after police say a man was found in Chattanooga with two missing children after their mother was found dead in a Jackson apartment.

Investigators say Keon Stewart took his two young children from their Jackson home.

Jackson police say they conducted a welfare check Tuesday night at the east Jackson apartment.

“Once we arrived there, a search of the apartment was conducted and Amanda Northern was found deceased inside,” said Deputy Chief Tyreece Miller of the Jackson Police Department.

WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News reached out to Stewart’s mother, but we were unable to reach her.

Neighbors who live near her Brownsville home say they saw police at her house last night, where Stewart used to live.

Police say they got information that Stewart may be in Chattanooga, where residents at one apartment say they let him stay the night.

“He needed a place to lay down for the night instead of go to a hotel and pay so much money and stay for a night with him and his kids,” said Davonta Norris, a resident in a nearby apartment.

Norris says he woke up Wednesday morning with officers from several agencies at the apartment.

“My friend allowed him to stay for the night, and we woke up to some frantic mess,” Norris said.

Police said Stewart was wanted on violation of probation and failure to comply charges. They say the two children, who were the subjects of an endangered child alert early Wednesday morning, were found safe in Chattanooga when Stewart was taken into custody.

“Right now, they’re in child protective custody. Eventually, we hope to get them back here to Jackson,” Deputy Chief Miller said.

Miller says their first priority was making sure the children were safe.

“We are certainly thankful, I think most importantly, that the children were located safely. That was a high priority for us, was finding the children,” Miller said.

Stewart is expected to be brought to Jackson for questioning in Northern’s death.

Northern’s family has set up a GoFundMe page for help with funeral costs and support of her two children.