Baby Taken from Church Nursery: What Would You Do?

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

22 Jun 2009 06:52 AM

In Gaines Township, Michigan, an infant was taken from a church nursery. The infant was discovered missing when her mother went to pick her up around noon. Nursery volunteers did a check of the children against the nursery roster and discovered that the baby was gone.

The church officials checked the security camera and confirmed that it was a nursery volunteer who took the infant. Fortunately, the 12-month old little girl was was found two hours later, safe at the home of the volunteer who abducted the child. The volunteer was arrested.

According to local news reports, the parents were most disturbed by the fact that the kidnapper attempted to disguise the baby, changing her clothing and her hair.

From the news report, it appears that the kidnapper was trying to pass the baby off at her own and had actually been at another church previously. At that church, the kidnapper was alone in the nursery when another mother went to drop her baby off. But sensing that something wasn't right, she refused to do so.

Thankfully this story has a happy ending, but it could have very easily become tragic. What is interesting to be is two things.

First that one mother obeyed her instinct and did not drop off her child. How many times do we ignore our instincts in order to avoid offending someone or being in an awkward social situation?

The second brings up the question about security in the church nursery. Most churches in which I have volunteered require membership in the church, as well as a simple background check before you can volunteer in either the nursery or Sunday School (Super Church). Furthermore, there is always more than one volunteer in the room at a time, even if the nursery contains only one child.

These are simple things that I think every parent leaving a child should demand. How do you think you would have reacted as a parent in this situation?

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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ups477 (54) 22 Jun 2009 11:12 AM

I live about 5 miles away from where this happend. There have been things that go on in & outside that church before. For one a murder last year in the parking lot. I will not go to that area as I deem it unsafe. If my gut tells me something is wrong I follow that feeling. I am not to conserned if I hurt someones feelings if it has to do with my child or families safty.

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 24 Jun 2009 05:21 AM

That is really scary.

Kimmama (360) 15 Jul 2009 09:27 PM

Ahhh!! I'm glad I personally know each woman that works in the nursery at my church. But I always follow my instincts. I wont' leave my son in the nursery if I see another baby in there with a cold, for example.