Sunday Sign of Hope March 11th 2007

Kidnapped Texas Baby Reunited With Mother

From NBC San Diego:

A newborn kidnapped from a Texas hospital has been returned to her mother after being found safe in New Mexico.

The 4-day-old girl, Mychael Darthard-Dawodu, was flown back to Lubbock, Texas, hours after being found about 100 miles away in Clovis, N.M. A hospital official said the baby's parents are "relieved and happy."

Police said 21-year-old Rayshaun Parson was arrested in Clovis on suspicion of kidnapping. She was questioned Sunday by investigators from the FBI and Lubbock police. The Clovis native is being held at the Curry County Detention Center.

Lubbock and FBI investigators had interviewed her Sunday and said she also could be facing federal charges.

Mychael is in good condition, said Lubbock police Lt. Scott Hudgens.

He said that Lubbock police got a tip that a person matching the description was seen in Clovis, N.M. Police there were then contacted and they were able to locate baby Mychael.

Police had been searching for the baby since a woman who posed as a medical worker walked out of Covenant Lakeside Hospital early Saturday morning with the 5-pound baby hidden in her purse. The baby was 3 days old when she was kidnapped.

Clovis, N.M., Police Chief Dan Blair said officers received a tip and found the infant in a Clovis home. Police found the suspect pulling up in a vehicle at her home in Clovis after dropping the baby off at another home for someone else to baby-sit, Blair said. He said the woman who was arrested looks "very much" like the woman seen in surveillance video from the hospital.