Abducted Child Located; Suspect in Custody

This afternoon at 12:11 PM, the Santa Monica Police Department received a frantic call for help from a grandmother whose 4-year-old granddaughter had been kidnapped from a restaurant in the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica.  The first officers were on the scene within minutes of the call being dispatched, gathering video images of the probable kidnapper and child to send to additional units who were on their way.  All available field resources, including more than 30 sworn and civilian personnel, flooded the area, searching for the subject, described as a heavyset white female in her 30s.  At 12:37 PM, our Downtown Services Unit officers located the suspect and child in a room at the Holiday Motel at 11th Street and Pico Boulevard.  Thankfully, the child was unharmed and the suspect was taken into custody.

 

Our heartfelt best wishes go out to the child and her family as they deal with the shock of this ordeal.  We will do everything we can to make sure they are helped through this time and also to make sure no stone is left unturned in the investigation.  The suspect will be booked into our jail on kidnapping charges.  We will provide updates with the suspect’s name and booking photo within 24 hours.  Additional updates will be forthcoming when the case is presented to the District Attorney’s office. 

 

This early in the investigation, we cannot confirm the suspect's criminal history. It appears she has been residing at the Holiday Motel for an extended period of time, but it is too soon to confirm any details other than those shared above.

 

All media inquiries should be routed to me and my colleague, Public Information Coordinator Myesha Morrison (Myesha.morrison@santamonica.gov).