ATLANTA, Ga. — Two young sisters are safe after Atlanta police said their babysitter kidnapped them, ending a frantic search that led investigators to a southwest Atlanta apartment complex.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Four-year-old Zola Cooper and her 11-month-old sister, Norah Cooper, were found safe Monday morning.
Their mother, Elicia Redding, told Channel 2 Action News she is still trying to understand why a woman she considered a friend would take her children.
“I trusted her, but she broke that trust,” Redding told Channel 2 reporter Michael Seiden.
Redding said she met Lakesha Brown about a year ago through a Facebook group for mothers.
Channel 2 obtained a Facebook post that Redding said first connected the two women. In the post, Brown offered expectant mothers free braids, a pedicure and a massage.
Redding said the two eventually became friends.
On Saturday, Redding said Brown came over and asked if she could take the girls out for the day.
“She came over on Saturday and she asked me if she could take the kids out for a day out and I told her, ‘Yeah, she could,’” Redding said.
Redding said Brown left with the children that evening. They agreed Brown would bring the girls back to Redding’s mother’s home in northwest Atlanta.
But Redding said Brown never showed up.
Instead, Redding said Brown began sending her text messages claiming she and the children had been involved in a crash on I-285.
“She says they were at a standstill on 285 and semi truck had hit them,” Redding said.
Redding said Brown claimed the children had been taken to a hospital, but she became suspicious and began calling hospitals herself.
“When I called all the children’s hospitals and adult hospitals, they weren’t in the system,” Redding said.
Text messages obtained by Channel 2 show Redding repeatedly demanding information about her daughters as the hours passed.
“WHERE ARE MY KIDS?????” Redding wrote in one message.
Hours later, she pleaded, “Please give me my kids back.”
Atlanta police issued an alert as investigators searched for the two girls and Brown.
The break in the case came Monday morning when investigators received information that Brown might be at an apartment complex on Sylvan Road in southwest Atlanta.
Atlanta police Lt. Christapher Butler said investigators began working with people in the community and received information that Brown might be somewhere on the property.
Police said someone at the complex told investigators that a woman matching Brown’s description might be staying in a trailer.
Fugitive detectives responded to the area and then heard something that caught their attention.
“They heard the sounds of a baby crying,” Butler said.
Investigators followed the sound and found Brown and both girls, according to police.
Video obtained by Channel 2 shows an ambulance leaving the apartment complex with the children after they were found. The girls were taken to a hospital but are expected to be OK.
Police said charges against Brown are expected.
Investigators have not released a possible motive.
Police also confirmed Brown had an outstanding warrant from Alabama for failing to appear in connection with a previous case. Investigators were still gathering information Monday about what happened in that case.
Redding said what she has learned since her daughters disappeared has changed how she views her relationship with Brown.
“I feel like she was just plotting to take my kids the whole time,” Redding said.
Channel 2 Action News is continuing to investigate Brown’s past and has learned new details about a similar case in Alabama.
TRENDING STORIES:
- Marijuana by mail: Georgia cannabis regulators planning to approve delivery
- Alleged Ponzi scheme mastermind stole more than $100 million from victims, feds say
- Suspension of every single school board member in Georgia district recommended by state
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]