An 18-month-old girl allegedly abducted by a woman who had been babysitting the girl Thursday was found safe in downtown Atlanta after the babysitter returned to Atlanta to buy beer, police said.
Guadalupe Aguayo’s father, Ramon Aguayo, reported her missing just after 11:30 p.m. Thursday, Atlanta police spokeswoman Kim Jones said.
Aguayo told police that he left Guadalupe with his roommate’s girlfriend, Claudia Rodriguez, while he and his roommate were at work.
“When the father and the roommate returned to the residence at 6:30 p.m., the child and Rodriguez were not at the location,” Jones said. “The roommate’s 1996 Ford Ranger was also missing from the location.”
Jones said attempts were made by the father and roommate to contact Rodriguez with no success, and after the failed attempts, Aguayo called police.
Jones said just after 7 a.m. Friday that the girl had been found during a traffic stop along the Downtown Connector at I-20.
Atlanta police Lt. Janet Brady said Rodriguez had taken the child with her to Conyers to visit a male friend, and they had returned to Atlanta early Friday to buy beer when the truck was spotted at a gas station by a Zone 3 officer.
Brady said the officer called for backups, then followed the pickup onto the Downtown Connector and pulled the truck near I-20. Inside were Rodriguez, the toddler and the male friend from Conyers.
“She said she was planning on leaving the city again, so we’re happy that they were spotted,” Brady said.
She said the child appeared to be fine, but was taken to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Hughes Spalding to be checked out. Her father was brought to the scene, and rode with her in the ambulance, Brady said.
She said Rodriguez was arrested and charged with interference with custody and not having a child car seat in the vehicle. “We’re speaking to the district attorney’s office and that will probably be upgraded to kidnapping,” Brady said.
About the Author
