Posted on 09/15/2006 2:34:14 PM PDT by Clintons Are White Trash
Edited on 09/19/2006 4:26:01 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
A 7-day-old baby was kidnapped in Franklin County this afternoon by a woman with a gun who forced her way into the infant's home in Lonedell and cut the mother's throat, police said. The child remained missing and the mother was reported to be in stable condition in a St. Louis hospital.
The victim said she did not know her assailant, said Franklin County sheriff's Capt. Don Jones.
UPDATE:
(KSDK)
BREAKING NEWS: Family Says Abby Woods Found Alive, Woman Arrested
- The family of Abigale Lynn "Abby" Woods said she has been found safe and a woman has been arrested in connection with her disappearance.
Tuesday marked day five of the search for the missing Lonedell baby. Eleven-day-old Abby was abducted last Friday from her mother's home in a heavily wooded area just south of Highway 30.
Investigators once again searched the home for evidence, and road blocks were set up along several roads leading to the home in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Divers from the Missouri Water Patrol searched a manmade lake near the home. FBI Special Agent in Charge Roland Corvington said investigators were interested in searching two other nearby bodies of water.
Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said the searches were not prompted by any new information, but were simply a continuation of the investigation.
Toelke also said the baby's father James Woods took and passed a polygraph exam. He said Abby's mother Stephanie Oschenbine, 21, will undergo a test once she recovers from injuries she sustained during the kidnapping.
Tolke said there is no evidence that the parents staged her abduction or were involved in the crime.
Stephanie told investigators a woman entered the home, cut her neck and took Abby. Stephanie is recovering from her injuries at a relative's home.
Investigators said they've received more than 500 tips from several states relating to Abby's abduction. Corvington said the many of the tips have come from people who saw the composite sketch released Monday.
"The phones have been ringing off the wall, which is good. We've been getting a lot of good tips, so that's really been beneficial to us," said Toelke on Monday night.
Stephanie worked with investigators for days creating a composite sketch of the woman she said took her baby.
"It got to the point of where she felt she couldn't improve on it any more," said Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke.
It's not perfect, said Stephanie, but it does give a better idea of what the suspect looks like.
The abductor is described as a Caucasian female in her late thirties or early forties. She is between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 200 lbs. Investigators said the abductor may have a cut on her leg, sustained during a struggle with Stephanie.
Investigators also released a photograph of a fringed, black winter scarf they hope someone will recognize. The Missouri National Guard found it along with a knife Saturday near the family's home.
"In the description given by the mother, she described the unknown subject as having a scarf around (her) neck," said Corvington.
"We feel it's pretty significant and we'd like for the public to take a look and see if anybody recognizes it," said Toelke.
The family said they've never seen the scarf or the woman before.
"My daughter did not know (the abductor). As far as her knowing my daughter, she could have done anything," said Stephanie's mother, Raylene Ochsenbine.
With each passing day, they're becoming more frantic and more fearful that Abby won't be found. Authorities said the suspect may have targeted the home because of a sign in the lawn announcing Abby's arrival.
"We're getting concerned about her long Abby's been gone. It's really become a major concern," said Abby's grandfather and Stephanie's father Kenny Ochsenbine.
This past weekend, Abby's pediatrician, Dr. Andy Zupan, said it is important for her to be seen in his office. She was discharged from the hospital over a week ago, and due for a follow-up appointment a few days later.
Zupan said Abby is dependent on breast milk, and any time a baby's nutritional source is changed, there can be concern.
Abby is Caucasian with black hair and blue eyes, 19 inches long and weighs six lbs. When Abby was taken, she was wearing a pink dress with a flowered collar. She also has a birth mark between her eyes.
Investigators have sent the scarf and the knife to the St. Louis County Crime Lab for testing. Investigators are awaiting the results of those tests.
At the time of the abduction, the woman was wearing a baseball cap with a worn bill, with dark hair tucked under the hat along with a grey or brown T-shirt and denim shorts.
"We don't have ill will... we just want her to come home... just give her back," said the baby's grandmother Raylene Ochsenbine. She added the whole family is torn apart.
The family of Shawn Hornbeck is also aiding in the search for Abby. Shawn, who was 11 at the time, disappeared nearly four years ago while riding his bicycle near his home in Richwoods.
Shawn's father Craig Akers started The Shawn Hornbeck Foundation to help other missing kids and their families. The group has been distributing flyers containing Abby's picture.
Ironically, one of Abby's relatives used to babysit Shawn.
I could get behind fire ants, too.
At the very least, I hope she gets locked away for life. I don't know if someone can do something like this and ever be fixed.
She's got a big screw loose, that's for sure.
Horrible, prayers for the tiny baby and mom.
May God place a shield of protection around this child until she can be returned to her mother's loving arms.
That's the one I was thinking of - and wasn't that in rural Missouri, too?
bump...keep looking
Yeah, and I think she took the baby across state lines.
This thread makes my heart hurt.
The map of where that baby was taken shows Hermann, MO. Wonderful little place to visit if you are into Missouri wines. Our last baby came from Hermann, so to speak. TMI, I know.
This poor woman and that beautiful baby will be in my prayers. I'll also pray for the woman that took her that she may return the baby unharmed.
And you have such beautiful children too! Yeah,
this is an awful thread.....period. Worse if you're a parent or know the area.
Can't say why exactly, but there is something that doesn't quite ring true about this whole thing. Something just doesn't seem quite in sync.
Many, many, many prayers and blessings for the baby, the family & friends.
...And one for the kidnapper cause she'll need it when somebody catches her...
Praying for the quick return of this little one and quick recovery for her mother.
Perhaps the fact that there's no mention of the baby's having a father?
This one just makes my heart ache. The perp has to be someone who knows the mother. Someone who lives in the community or works at hospital or doctor's office. She had to know that the mother was pregnant, when due and where she lived. The mother living in a rural area. This would not be a chance abduction. The father? Could this be someone with a connection to the father?
I was also wondering if the abductor might have some connection with the (unmentioned) father. Maybe the mother has given the police useful information that's not in the news.
The poor little baby!
She picked up her one year old son, Conner, who was home with her at the time, and went to several rural homes in search of help.
Questions: Why didn't she use her own phone and dial 911? And why would the suspected "knife" be found in the woods?
Just asking...
sw
Ochsenbine is not a suspect, Toelke said. The attacker was described as a white woman with black hair, 5-feet-8 and 200 pounds. She was believed to be armed.
Ochsenbine helped police artists with a composite drawing of the kidnapper after leaving the hospital. The picture could be released Sunday, Toelke said.
Fliers showing the baby, called "Abby" by her family, were posted in gas stations and restaurants in neighboring Union. The 6-pound girl, born Sept. 8, has dark brown hair, dark eyes and a strawberry birthmark on her forehead.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2455894
She also had a long-distance phone block on her phone. I was wondering if her area even had a 911 local call?
sw
MOgirl,
How far is Lonedell from St. Louis and Jefferson County?
Good points.....
:)
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