Mom’s screams thwart accused kidnapper trying to take 3-year-old, Missouri cops say

A 3-year-old girl was nearly abducted as she played in the backyard of her Missouri home, authorities say.

The Saturday, June 8, incident led to the arrest of a 40-year-old St. Louis man on a charge of attempted kidnapping, according to the St. Louis Metro Police Department.

Police said a mom was watching her children play in the backyard through a surveillance camera when she saw her 3-year-old “being led away from her property” by an unknown man.

The mother ran outside and shouted at the man, who let go of the girl, police said. The child and their mom re-entered the home, but the man walked toward them and sat on the porch, according to police.

Then, the child’s grandmother arrived at the home and confronted the man, according to police. But when she saw he was armed, potentially with a knife, she returned “to her vehicle for safety,” police said.

He left before officers arrived, but they eventually detained him a few blocks away, according to a probable cause statement. Police did not find a knife on him, but rather a steel wine opener.

Authorities said the 40-year-old man is a “danger to the community.” He remained in the St. Louis Division of Corrections as of Monday, June 10, jail records show.

This story was originally published June 10, 2024 at 10:52 AM with the headline "Mom’s screams thwart accused kidnapper trying to take 3-year-old, Missouri cops say."