Authorities in Georgia have apprehended a babysitter suspected of abducting two young girls. Known as Zola Cooper, 4, and her little sister Norah Cooper, 11 months, the siblings were reportedly kidnapped by Lakesha Brown.
The two girls, initially labeled as being “in extreme danger,” have fortunately been located unharmed, according to an announcement made by the City of Atlanta Police Department on Monday.
It is reported that Brown had established trust with the girls’ mother, agreeing to babysit them while she stepped out for dinner on Saturday night. Upon returning, the mother found herself unable to reach Brown, prompting her to quickly contact the authorities.
The mother reported her children missing at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, indicating that she had left them in Brown’s care around 6 p.m. earlier that evening, as per the police report.
In an alarming incident, a babysitter has been charged with the alleged kidnapping of young sisters Norah, 11 months, and Zola Cooper, 4 years old. Thankfully, police have confirmed the children are now safe and sound. (City of Atlanta Police Department)
By Monday afternoon, police announced they were able to locate the girls using technology that pointed them to the Sylvan road area. Once they arrived, officers heard crying, found them, and brought them to safety.
Atlanta police said Brown had previously been accused in a similar kidnapping case in Alabama.
Investigators in Alabama said in August 2021, Brown was arrested for kidnapping infant Kamarion Taylor, who was just four days old at the time.
Police spent hours searching for the girls with the help of investigators from Georgia and Alabama. (City of Atlanta Police Department)
Brown allegedly gained the trust of Taylor’s mother and grandmother and kidnapped the infant while his mother was taking a nap.
“When Kamarion’s mother awoke, the baby was nowhere to be found. Lakesha was also gone. The mother immediately contacted Lakesha and asked where Kamarion was. Lakesha told her that Kamarion was there in his playpen where she laid him before she left,” the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said.
Police said a babysitter allegedly abducted two young sisters after gaining their mother’s trust and agreeing to watch them Saturday night. The girls, ages 4 and 11 months, were found safe Monday after officers used technology to track them to an area where they heard crying. Police arrested Lakesha Brown, who authorities said was also accused of kidnapping a 4-day-old baby in Alabama in 2021. (Atlanta Police/Facebook)
Investigators safely recovered Kamarion and Brown was booked into jail.