E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSPolice in California say a woman, disguised as nurse, tried to carry another mother's newborn baby out of a Garden Grove hospital inside a tote bag. KNBC's Ted Chen reports.
A California woman was arrested Monday on suspicion of kidnapping after she allegedly posed as a Garden Grove Medical Center employee and stole a newborn girl from a mother's hospital room, police said.
The suspect was identified Monday evening as 48-year-old Grisel Ramirez, of Garden Grove, according to Sgt. William Allison with Garden Grove Police Department.
The woman -- who was wearing scrubs and possibly a visitor's pass -- walked into the mother's room on the fifth floor and told the patient the doctor would be right in, said Jeff Nightengale of the Garden Grove Police Department.
For more, visit NBCLosAngeles.com
The suspect told the woman, "'Why don't you take a shower,' or something to that effect," Nightengale said.
"The mother got up, went into the shower, and when that happened, she took the newborn and put her inside the tote bag," Nightengale said.
When the alleged kidnapper left the room, a monitoring device on the baby girl triggered an alarm.
"An alert employee at the hospital heard the alarm go off, confronted her, stopped her, detained her until we arrived at the location," Nightengale said.
The baby was not injured and has since been reunited with her mother, Nightengale said.
The incident happened shortly after 10 a.m. Monday at Garden Grove Medical Center, located at 12601 Garden Grove Blvd., police said.
Earlier in the day, police said Ramirez -- a 20-year resident of Garden Grove -- was being uncooperative.
"(She) lived in the United States for 20 years, but we don't think that she's a legal resident of the country," Nightengale said.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Experts: Temple gunman used pseudonym 'Jack Boot,' led band
- Alleged gunman in Sikh temple shooting ID'd as Army vet
- Sikhs reel after 'senseless' attack: We're not Taliban
- Wounded cop in Sikh temple shooting lauded as hero
- Month after arson attack, Mo. mosque burns again
- Video: Dog-paddling pooch swims with dolphins
Follow US News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
been here 20yrs and not legal???? send her back to her country...plenty of unwanted babies there that need mothers.maybe she can do something useful and helpful there.
Yes, boot her ass back across the ocean!
Well, at least now maybe the administration will consider her worthy of the effort to deport - that is after she serves her time for attempted kidnapping.
Thankfully the hospital was employing the latest technology to prevent babies from being stolen from the hospital. It is a shame that our society has degenerated to the point where we need to put a lo-jack on a newborn to keep them safe, but at least we have the technology available. I am very happy that the system worked the way it was supposed to and that the hospital employees were alert so that this woman was prevented from stealing this baby. Unfortunately, not all stories like this have a happy ending.
j
"Yes, boot her ass back across the ocean!"
Across the ocean? What China or one of the countries in Europe or Africa? Not sure where you are going with this.
Is she mentally ill or was she looking to sell the baby for profit? Either way, she is a despicable human being.
How about deport her by rowboat during Hurricane season?
I'm betting she was going to sell the baby, black market adoption ring.
Mike it is doubtful that she would be of any use to the poor in her home country but I agree she should go back there and should never be allowed to even visit the United States ever again. The government in her home country should be alerted to her particular depraved intent and monitor the B&*(( until the day she dies.
I will continue to monitor this story to see: if she truly is an illegal immigrant, what La Raza and other pro-illegal groups say on the behalf of this woman like she has never broken a law cough sputter like immigration laws are just for show), If she has other children (her own or one stolen in the night), if they claim some sort of mental illness as reasoning for stealing another families baby.
Thankfully, the security tech in the hospital worked as intended and the baby is safe. So sad for the parents of the infant. Unfortunately, sometimes you can do everything possible to protect your children but the opportunists who wish to prey on our children will keep trying. We truly need to put more teeth in the penalties for those who attempt to harm our children and our elderly.
Thank God the staff and the HUGS system alarm all worked the way it was supposed to. Staff are specifically trained in Obstetric and Pediatric units on these types of alarms. What is remarkable is that these alarms also receive heartbeat status sensors every 10 seconds to the alarm device and if the device doesn't receive the sensor, it will also set off the alarm. Unfortunately, California law and punishment for what she did is the real problem. If they charge her with Kidnapping, a felony, she would only serve a maximum 8 years, which of course she wouldn't serve all of it. And if they charge her with child abduction, she could potentially plead it down to a misdemeanor and get a maximum sentence of 4 yrs and a fine. Then be deported to where-ever she came from in the first place. So she cost this mother and father a lifetime of having inflicted the most horrific stress of knowing your "newborn baby was taken" at a time that should be remembered as the most wonderful time of their lives together, and she cost the California tax payer money for her defense (probably), trial (if any), and her incarceration until she can be deported. As a California tax payer, I am sick to death of the amount of money we spend as a state on undocumented individuals in this state. I am probably paying for her food stamps, medical care for her kids, her, and her apartment as well while she is committing crimes. ENOUGH ALREADY.
JS - I agree very sad that we have to put these alarms on the newborns but you are right at least it did its job.
Yes, stuff this lady in a tote bag and kick her back across the border with a note that says return to sender. Skip the prison time (more taxpayer $$) and make her home country (Mexico I assume) aware of what she did and have them lock her up. Though, illegal alien or not, this is a sad deal and anyone who attempts something like this should receive a good flogging on top of a fine and cell time.
As far as 20yrs here? I'm so sick of this. Hey come one come all but do it the right way. My great grandfather immigrated here and did it the legal way. So can everyone else. I love our countries diversity, what makes us great, but for crying out loud stop taking advantage of us and do it the right way! DC do you hear that?, need you to you know, do your job and fix the problem, no more pandering! Admend the 14th amendment please, for starters.
Glad the little one is ok, best wishes to her parents and family. Could not imagine that ever happening. Someone took my kid, I promise you they would be praying for police protection.
It is time
What a despicable monster. She should get life. Can you imagine the heartbreak of having your baby stolen? She was probably going to sell it or something. Just terrible.
When we had our daughter on July 10 they put one of those ankle monitors on her. I felt it was a little odd, and it kept going off in our recovery room whenever I'd sit near the window. The nurses would come in to make sure she was there, and check my wrist band to make sure I was the father, as per procedure, then leave me alone and apologize for the false alarm.
It is a story like this that really gives me an appreciation for the use of such technology.
It is time-
I have to agree with you! Stuff her in the tote bag, put an alarm system on the states as we have in the hospitals, and put a chip in her, that does not allow her to cross back across the border.
Obama, (and justice dept. by not enforcing immigration law, or enforcing it Obama's way) per Obama's announcement 2 weeks ago, reaps what he sows.
Illegal (alien) immigrant Baby snatcher (even if she is a crazy drug addict) would probably have kept this baby as insurance not to be deported herself. When will potus (any future president) stop blaming past administrations policy and how they enforced immigration law, just step up and enforce immigration law that's already on the books?
"...lived in the United States for 20 years..."
Bring your kids, and if you don't have any we'll give you some of ours.
We have Code Pink drills all the time and even if 1 is prevented from being stolen then all the drills are worth it! You have never seen a hospital move faster than when a Code Pink/Purple is called ! You are not getting out of the hospital! EVERY bag is checked. If you don't allow then you are detained !
Anything to get additional welfare benefits.
Sheeesh, why didn't she go to a hospital in the Sanctuary City San Francisco and do this ? Heck, if she got caught there, the authorities would have released her with no questions asked.
OMG, the nerve of some people. I bet the mother never leaves her baby. I hope karma bites the baby snatcher.
I bet that hospital is happy with its investement of newborn tagging devices.
This is what happens with poor planning. She needed to scope the place better, learn security and how to disable it long before she attempted this.
You're an idiot.
Chris -- you speaking from experience. Nothing like having the criminal mentality when it comes newborns. POS!
What the hell is it with people who snatch babies? Don't they realize how expensive it is to raise a kid these days, plus if someone is stealing a baby chances are they don't have the moral fiber to raise a kid right anyway.
You can leave out the 'chances are' part of your comment.
"Don't they realize how expensive it is to raise a kid these days,"
eh.....Tell that to the welfare queens. To them it's more money in the purse. In this case if she was not legal, she knew the baby would be.
"eh.....Tell that to the welfare queens. To them it's more money in the purse. In this case if she was not legal, she knew the baby would be."
That's your evaluation of the abductors reason. Welfare!?! Three reasons a women abducts a child. Mentally disturbed, due to loss. She's the biological mother, and cuts off ties to father. Or she's a child abductor involved in human trafficking. Human traffickers utilized more women for child abduction, due to it appearing less suspicious than a man traveling with a newborn/toddler/child alone. Jeez, welfare.. Actually, as crazy as this sounds, welfare would largely increase the possibility of the biological mother getting her child back. But if the baby would have been transported outside of the US, she would have never seen her baby again.
Thankful this story has a happy ending!!
@UDunnoBro its to sell it, a newborn is a hot commodity for couples that cant have a child, a single who cant get approval to adopt. People will pay a lot of money for children, even the older ones.
JewelsNewLeaf
So, what you are basically saying is that you're right and I'm wrong. Sure if that makes you feel better. Besides, lighten up some it's not that hard to do. "Why so Serious?"
thepunisher
I bit misinformed, but not a complete idiot!! lol
Lets see, shes not cooperating with authorities, possibly an illegal alien and then oh yeah she tries to steal a newborn baby and even talks with the child's own mother before taking the child. Nuts doesn't even come close to what I'd like to call this woman.
Normally I'd say deport her right now but in this case I'll say lock her up for her crime (s) and when she gets out years later then deport her for good.
Shes most likely has a few more anchor babies at home, better check those kids to make sure there her real kids. She may have even taken another child in the past, after all shes been here for 20 years or who knows how long and kidnapping has been going on for ages. I pray she doesn't have any other stolen kids at home but if she does then hopefully they find their real parents.
I thank God someone was paying attention and that baby never made it out those hospital doors! Send her back to her own damn country...
OMG - like she's shopping at Target!
Hope these new monitors will finally put an END to the baby snatchers.
Nothing new about these monitors...They have been around a very long time (decades)...That is why this thing doesnt happen more often....I luv how these people think they are smarter than everyone else, and try to get away with such an shameful act... I have worked in many hospitals over the years, and let me tell you maternity ward nurses are top notch...
eh...More like shoppoing at walmart.
Hospitals started using these alarm systems initially for in-patients with Dementia back in the late 80's, so that they could not get up, wander to the elevators or doors and leave the hospital without alerting staff, by 2000, most hospital maternity units were using the HUGS systems ankle bracelets, not only in their units but all children in Pediatric units also had the alarms placed just like patient identification bracelets as well. Some systems are so sophisticated that they actually trigger emergency doors to shut and lock elevators as well.
Great technology. I wish nothing but the best for this baby's Mom and Dad. Hopefully their joy of their experience of having their new baby won't be over-shadowed by this womans' unconscionable act.
She's stealing babies so she can sign up for food stamps, WIC, low income housing......
Or sell it to sterile young urban professionals....
Do you really think somebody who stole a baby would risk signing them and the baby up for any social services? These people steal children and get away with it for years or even forever because they do not sign the children up for these things, guess they are smarter than you Mr. Righty!
There are some extremely paranoid individuals roaming the US... Socialism? Bahahaha!!
Actually, it was not for benefits. It was a desperate attempt to cover up a lie. Her husband had left her and she told him she was pregnant. She could only pretend to be pregnant for so long, so... she needed a Hispanic newborn.
Sick, I know.
As the old comedian Jerry Clower would say "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, shoot that thang!"
Joking, but get rid of her. I don't want to pay for keeping her up. Have her put in a mental ward in her own country. Let them pay for her. We can't afford to keep our own mentally ill off the street. Let the new mom have a chance first to slap some common sense into her first of all though. Mom deserves that much for the anxiety that it caused. On that I am NOT joking!
Nuts does not describe this woman at all.
Cold hearted and cruel are better choices. To steal a newborn baby from right under her mother's nose? To abuse this brand new mother's trust in that way, and steal her precious baby takes much, much more than being "nuts".
OMG putting a one or two day old baby in a tote bag...having first deceived the new mother...she wasn't looking to take care of this baby; I wouldn't be surprised if her motives were to sell the baby.
There is something horribly wrong inside the mind of a person who would perform such a deranged act as this. It is scary to think people like this have such easy access to us. Thank goodness for the tracking device!
The anquish that mom would suffer if the kidnapper suceeded,just recently a mother was reunited with her daughter after 23 years,...can't make up for lost time and missed mile stones while growing up..
Diane - I doubt that poor mother will ever be the same again, even though the kidnapping was unsuccessful.
I know I was an over-protective mother even without an incident like this. I can only imagine how protective this mom will be. Quite vigilant I'm sure, I know I would be.
Best wished to baby, mom, & dad.
Kudos to the alert employee who didn't just ignore the alarm under the assumption it was a false alarm. This story could have turned out so much differently.
Cannot but help wonder if she has her own kids or if this was a sell the infant for profit scheme.
You may have a good point on the "sell for profit" deal.
On a lighter note, we have all heard of the guy who was so lazy that he married a pregnant woman, but this is the first time I heard of a woman who was so lazy she stole a baby instead of carrying it.
Every hear of the judgement of Solomon? Just a story I read somewhere...
Wych, what about that woman who stole a baby after killing the mother in a clinic parking lot, because she herself miscarried, and didn't want to lose her boyfriend?
I'm just thankful everything turned out good on this one. While the Mom will probably not take her eyes off her child anytime soon, at least she has the baby there.
Deport the illegal, and any minor children she has as home. We don't need her here.
I think those monitors are terrific. That's certainly great technology.
First I've heard of these monitors for babies. Such a great idea. Hope that all hospitals have them!
I think they do. When I had my boys, removing it was the second to last thing done before we left- the last thing was helping you get the baby in the car seat and walking you to the car to make sure it was in right.
Unfortunately, I believe ALL hospitals do not have this type of security device but I believe they all should. I'm lucky they had them when my kids were born (2000 and 2004). For extra security reasons, the hospital was very strict on NOT hanging ribbons or baby wreaths on the outside of your hospital door and the blinds in the nursery were always closed so no one could see.
HighTide, you are right. All hospitals do not have them. I had my son back in September 2009 at what i consider the best hospital here in the upstate of SC. There was no monitoring bracelet put on me or my son. But with the awesome staff in the maternity ward, i don't think baby snatching would've been very possible. You had to be walked in and out of the maternity ward by a staff member or someone with a patient bracelet (i.e., the mom or the dad of the newborn). But these HUGS bracelets should make it almost impossible to snatch a baby. They definitely do need them in every hospital in every state.
Take her out back and shoot her. Be done with these criminals once and for all.
No, that's just not right. I say fly her back to her country. Once over the capital, inform her she's free to try again once she's on the ground and kick her out of the plane. 10,000 feet seems like a fair altitude.
Don't worry, I am sure the DREAM amnesty has her covered... we will be paying for this useless bag of mostly water for a long time.
Glad the hospital was on its toes. The baby market it alive and well it seems.
By the way, what ever happened with the Kennedy guy who tried to take his own new-born out to the hospital? Hospital staffs need to have good programs in order can save a lot of heart-ache. Mr Kennedy probably wasn't up to anything rotten, but I think the hospital was right then, as was the case now, to stick to their rules.
wow, another "entitled " douche bag. gimme....gimme...gimme....thats all you hear from people these days.
Well, what are you waiting for.....gimme some money dude.
Another Illegal dumb and ignorant Illegal that will now drain the system while she is in jail.
Hum... Do you even know what the DREAM Act is?
Please, do tell us how this woman could qualify... The bill offers a path to citizenship to people who were brought to the US as CHILDREN, have lived in the US for years with NO criminal record, and have gone to college or the military.
You suggest that a person WITH now a criminal record, who came to this country after she was already at least 28 YEARS OLD would be covered?
Were you educated by Fox News?
Good one, C.Jordan! Thank you for posting what I was thinking. The ignorance and lack of forethought of some who post inanities is often overwhelming. You gave a quick, educational course which will likely be ignored by those who need it most.
yah I know what the dream act is, and maybe this POS womans children qualified since she's a illegal
just doing another job the americans wouldn't do..
Please tell me they're going to deport this bitc@.
Thank goodness for baby monitors...
She was an illegal so she was looking for an "anchor" baby. Bring on that DREAM act - give more illegals a chance to show how much they love America and its values.
Don't put her in jail. Put a convict tattoo on her forehead and kick her out of the country.
illegal alien, make sure the librals give her a drivers license, housing, free scholarships and tuition and whatever else she wants. Because if they don't, then thats bigotry.
They should lock her up. And after she has served her time she should be deported.