“Tell your grandparents goodbye”: Man accused of trying to abduct toddler from Neosho McDonald's

A man is accused of trying to abduct a toddler from a McDonald's in Neosho, telling the child to say goodbye to their grandparents before carrying the child toward the exit.

Police arrested Jose Juan Martinez Sunday after the alleged incident inside the Love's Travel Stop on Highway 86.

Martinez faces an allegation of second-degree kidnapping.

According to court documents, five different witnesses told investigators Martinez picked up a child believed to be 2 or 3 years old and placed the toddler on his lap.

Martinez then stood up and started walking toward the restaurant's exit.

As he approached the door, witnesses said Martinez told the child, "Tell your grandparents goodbye."

When an apparent guardian confronted Martinez and attempted to retrieve the child, investigators say he initially refused to let go.

Martinez eventually returned the toddler.

Surveillance video from the McDonald's corroborated the witnesses' testimony.

After his arrest, Martinez admitted to investigators that he had placed the child on his lap and walked toward the exit while carrying the toddler.

However, he claimed the incident was a joke.

Police say Martinez did not know the child and did not have permission to take the toddler.

Investigators also revealed that the child and the apparent guardians left the restaurant before officers arrived.

As of the latest report, police had not identified or contacted the child or the guardians.

Investigators said efforts to locate them were continuing.