Published: July 06, 2007 12:03 am         

10-, 12-year-old accused of kidnapping baby

ENID, Okla. — A 1-year-old Enid boy was safe at home after being kidnapped and held for $200,000 in ransom.

Sheila Wells said her son, Brandon, was doing fine, despite Thursday's ordeal.

“He’s had a long day,” she said.

Enid police arrested two girls, neighborhood sisters ages 12 and 10, who are accused of breaking into Wells’ home, taking Brandon and leaving a note demanding $200,000.

The girls allegedly told their mother they had “found the baby on the corner” when she noticed them with the child, according to Enid police.

Their mother recognized the boy as the child of one of her neighbors a block away.

Police received a call about 6:13 a.m. Wells told police the 12-year-old girl came to her house and told her her sister had kidnapped Wells’ son.

Wells said she did not realize her son had been kidnapped until she was told by the girl.

Police said the two girls allegedly sneaked out of their house and broke into Wells’ home, then took the boy, who was sleeping in his crib, as well as $20, a stroller, diapers and wipes.

A note was found telling the mother “If you want to see your son again then you won’t call police and report him missing and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight and we will return your son back safe.” The note was signed “the kidnappers.”

Wells said she knew the girls, and the younger one had spent some time at her home. Wells said she went to the girls’ home and took her son back, along the items taken from her home.

“Her mom said she knew there was something ‘fishy’ about it,” Wells said.

The girl was holding her child in her lap when she went to get her baby.

“She told me she wanted to be his new mommy,” Wells said. “She denied everything. When I walked in the door she was trying to make excuses to her mom.”

Wells said she had banned the 10-year-old girl from her home a few weeks ago.

Detectives interviewed the girls and placed them under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping, extortion and first-degree burglary. They were taken to Community Intervention Center.

Neither girl would give detectives any reason why they allegedly committed the crimes, according to police.

The girls appeared in Garfield County District Court about 4:30 p.m. Thursday for a hearing. Almost an hour later, they were led from the courthouse by police.

“I know they’re so young, but they need to learn from their mistakes,” Wells said.

She said she had not talked with the parents of the girls since their arrest.

“I couldn’t believe a 10-year-old girl would come into my house and take my son for I don’t know what reason,” Wells said.



Cass Rains writes for Enid (Okla.) News & Eagle.