Both were cutting class. Both Jon and Robert hated school; they felt like outcasts, because both had been kept behind a grade.
Jon and Robert came to the shopping center, that morning to steal. They lurked around the counters, pocketing whatever was in reach when the salesperson was busy. Everywhere, Jon and Robert went they were told to leave. Then they seemed to come up with a brilliant idea, steal a kid, hit him and get him lost.
Jon and Robert went to a concession stand near the butcher's shop, hoping to pocket some candy, but the stand was closed. As they stood there for a moment, Jon spotted a little boy in a blue jacket by the butcher's door."" Come on, baby,"" said Jon. James followed and Jon took him by the hand.
As they walked through the mall, a few women noticed the threesome. Sometimes James ran ahead. The older boys were calling to him: "Come on, baby."" Together, they left the shopping center. The video camera captured them as they left at 3:42 p.m.
Denise was in a state of panic. She was directed to the security office, where she described her son. He was wearing a blue jacket and grey sweat suit. His tee-shirt had the word "Noddy- printed on it, and his blue wool scarf had a white cat face. Security wasn't alarmed -- it was routine to announce the names and descriptions of lost children over the loudspeakers. But no one responded. Denise and Nicola searched the shops and again called the security officers -- still no James. At 4:15 p.m. they called the Marsh Lane Police Station to report a missing child.
Jon and Robert left the mall and walked up Stanley Road. They carried the toddler, who cried and fussed. James cried for his mother, but the boys continued on, ignoring his pleas. Jon held the boy's hand as they walked. Sometimes he ran ahead, other times he fell behind. They walked down to the canal and under a bridge to an isolated area. Jon and Robert joked about pushing James into the water.
