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Mom Punches Woman Who Allegedly Tried To Kidnap Her Daughter
A homeless woman whose child is reportedly in the care of the state is accused of trying to abduct a 6-year-old girl who she saw playing in her front yard.
A protective mother thwarted an alleged kidnapping attempt in Oregon over the weekend.
Stephanie Romero, 25, (pictured) is accused of trying to kidnap a 6-year-old girl from the front yard of her Portland apartment on Sunday, claiming that she was her own daughter, The Oregonian reported. She also allegedly attempted to steal some items from the property.
The girl's mother, Summer Salazar, and grandmother were told of the alleged abduction attempt and they confronted Romero. Salazar reportedly punched her in the face.
Romero then hopped a fence and eventually sat down on the ground until police cuffed her.
Police say the child was shaken up but unharmed. She was reportedly playing tag with her siblings when Romero approached her, according to The Oregonian.
"Come on, I'm gonna take you on the bike trail, follow me," the girl claimed Romero told her, according to court records obtained by The Oregonian. The child said Romero then pulled her by the wrist before she escaped her grip and ran into her apartment for help. Her siblings also ran to the girl’s mom for assistance.
"I was doing laundry and my son came and told me there was a crazy lady out here with the kids," Salazar told KGW8 in Portland. "She was very fixated on her, [telling] her that she was beautiful, she was touching her face."
Romero has been charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree kidnapping and third-degree theft. Her bond has been set at $352,500.
She is reportedly homeless and has drug and mental health issues, police say. Her biological daughter is in the state's care, The Oregonian reported. Her arrest on Sunday marked her fifth arrest in just the last 30 days. Other recent arrests including unlawful entry into a motor vehicle and criminal trespass.
[Photo: Multnomah County Sheriff's Office]
