Thanks to a tip from a local informant, one of two men charged with murder and kidnapping in Newton over the weekend is now in custody — after fleeing to Lexington, Ky.

Meanwhile, the two individuals police said had been kidnapped were returned safely home by Newton police late Tuesday. Newton police would not say where they were found.

Christopher McCune was picked up by Lexington police Tuesday at the address provided by the informant. He was being held overnight at the Fayette County Detention Center in Kentucky awaiting video arraignment this morning, and extradition back to Mississippi.

Police said they issued warrants for the arrest of McCune and alleged accomplice Kafien Kidd in connection with the shooting death of James “J.J.” Bolton.

Bolton was in his SUV early Sunday morning when he was shot and killed following a verbal altercation.

Later Sunday, police said they learned from Rudolph Ellis that his daughter, CaSonya, and her 10-month-old daughter, Tamar’ra Nelson, had apparently been kidnapped by McCune and Kidd.

“He became concerned because his daughter was not at her residence Sunday morning,” Newton Police Chief Harvey Curry said. “Then he heard from his daughter by phone at about 3:30 in the afternoon, saying that she was with the kidnappers.”

Curry said it could not be immediately determined where the the call originated, since the number was blocked.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Ellis family was elated when the police delivered CaSonya and Tamar’ra home.

“We’re overjoyed that they’re home, that they’re safe, and that the baby’s well,” said Gail Ellis, CaSonya’s mother. “We just embraced each other, and said that we loved each other, and cried.”

Police said no ransom was sought.

CaSonya Ellis was a cousin of shooting victim James “J.J.” Bolton, but it was unclear whether her reported kidnapping had any relation to that family connection.

Gail Ellis remembered her nephew, Bolton, as a loving and giving person who was well-known in the Newton community.

“When they killed him, they killed a good man,” she said. “He’d give you the shirt off his back, literally, if you needed it.”

Bolton ran JJ’s Easy Stop convenience store, Ellis said.

Chief Curry said he’s personally thanked the informant whose tip yielded the precise location where McCune was hiding out in Kentucky.

Now, Curry is asking for the public’s help in nabbing Kidd. “If anyone knows where he is, please call the Newton Police (at 601-683-2041), or your local law enforcement,” Curry said. “We’re not going to stop until we take him into custody.”

Despite Bolton’s death — the first homicide in Newton in six years — Curry maintained the city is still a safe place to live.

“Every now and then, every community has its problems,” the chief said. “I consider this to still be a safe community.”