KIDNAPPING. ARMED ROBBERY.
BOYNTON BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2026 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — What started as a routine Uber pickup near the Catalina Center turned into a hours-long nightmare Thursday night, leading to the Friday arrest of two local suspects. Boynton Beach Police say 20-year-old Isaiah Thurston and 24-year-old Jakeria Riley are now facing a laundry list of charges, including kidnapping and armed robbery. The victim told investigators that a man in a ski mask climbed into the car, pressed a gun against their back, and forced them to cancel the ride before a female accomplice jumped in for the ride.
For the next two hours, the driver was forced to navigate through West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach while the pair reportedly scoured the area for ATMs. Detectives say Thurston held the victim’s phone and repeatedly mentioned that he didn’t want to go back to jail, all while the duo tried to use credit cards to pull cash from various machines. The ordeal finally ended back in Boynton Beach, where the suspects jumped out of the car and fled on foot, prompting the driver to report the delayed kidnapping to the police lobby the following morning.
The search for the pair quickly turned into a massive manhunt involving the Real Time Crime Center, K-9 units, and PBSO’s Aviation Unit. While Thurston managed to slip away from officers during an initial foot chase near Mahogany Drive, investigators didn’t stop looking. They eventually tracked the pair down Friday evening after receiving tips that the duo might be frequenting the area near the Courtyard Marriott. Detectives spotted Thurston and Riley sitting at a picnic table and moved in to make the arrest without further incident.
Both suspects are now behind bars at the Palm Beach County Jail. In addition to the kidnapping and robbery charges, Riley is facing counts for possession of cocaine and the stolen credit cards found during the arrest, while Thurston’s record now includes violation of probation and resisting an officer.
