Woman Impersonating Hospital Employee Kidnaps Infant

A woman posing as a hospital employee kidnapped a week-old girl at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Bellflower Monday after offering to help the infant’s parents obtain a crib for their daughter, sheriff’s deputies said.

Officers said the abduction, which occurred about 4:30 p.m., was captured on a surveillance videotape. The suspect and the missing child were being sought Monday night.

The identity of the couple had not been released late Monday. Officers said the child’s first name is Cindy. She was born last week at Doctors Hospital in East Los Angeles.

The incident began Monday afternoon, when the woman telephoned the parents at their home in Compton, identified herself as a hospital employee and offered to help the couple obtain a crib for Cindy, deputies said.

Deputy Britta Tubbs said that the woman then went to the home and she, the couple and the infant drove back to the hospital at 9400 Rosecrans Ave. in the family’s car.

Deputy Bob Stoneman said that after they entered the hospital lobby, the woman left for a few moments, saying she had to check on the crib. Stoneman said that when the woman returned, she told the father to move his car to the front entrance, so it would be easier to load the crib into the vehicle.

“The woman then told the mother that she wanted to show the baby to some friends,” Tubbs said. “The mother stayed in the waiting room while the woman left with the baby. The woman never returned.”

Investigators said the woman told the couple that her first name is Maricela. The couple do not recall being told any last name.

The missing woman was described as a Latina in her 20s who appeared to be about seven months pregnant. At the time of the abduction, her dark hair was tied back with a light-colored bow. She was wearing a dark-colored sweater and pants.