https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2025/12/04/ex-library-board-member-faces-arrest-in-alleged-kidnapping-scheme/87609767007/Former Crawford County Library Board member Tamara “Tammi” Hamby turned herself in Dec. 3, 2025, on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping and endangering the welfare of an incompetent person in the first degree stemming from a plot to kidnap her own daughter Nov. 17, 2025.
Tammi Hamby targeted her daughter, Jami Hamby (age 22, listed as mentally incompetent on the arrest warrant), to have her “kidnapped” as a scare tactic due to Jami talking to strangers online.
Jami Hamby escaped her kidnappers and fled to a nearby home in Rudy, Arkansas, where the county sheriff was called and arrived at the scene.
Through the investigation, it was learned that Tami Hamby spoke with Shannon Childers, who is the Hambys' certified nursing assistant, who assists in the care for Jami, to help stage the kidnapping. The plot was to have someone pretend to be associated with country singer Luke Bryan and get Jami to go with them, drive her to a field up the road, tell Jami they’re not with the singer, demand money, and tie Jami to a tree. Tammi could rescue her daughter and use it as a lesson as to why she shouldn’t talk to strangers online.
Tammi asked Childers if she knew anyone who could assist with the plan. Childers recruited David Quach and Nico Austria.
Childers drove Quach and Austria to show them where Jami lived and the field in which to tie up Jami. Tammi would be nearby watching.
