Mom Fights Baby’s Abductor In McDonald’s Parking Lot

A mom fought with her baby’s abductor tooth-and-nail when he attempted to take her 10-month-old daughter out of her car seat at a Georgia McDonald’s.

According to WSBTV, the 19-year-old mother of the child told police she saw the suspect, identified as 19-year-old Sterlyn Reynolds, standing beside her before going into the McDonald’s last Wednesday.

The report indicates the mom, her baby, and a grandparent went inside the fast food restaurant, and the suspect followed them and sat at a table close by. The mother said that when they were done eating, they went back out to their car.

The mother buckled her baby in her car seat and then walked to get in the front seat of the vehicle. According to the mom, Reynolds then opened the door where the baby was sitting and tried to pull her out of her car seat. The grandparent ran to help, but was allegedly bitten by Reynolds.

The mom fought the suspect from inside the vehicle while holding the baby down, hitting him and biting his arm, she grabbed her baby, and ran back inside the McDonald’s. The baby suffered minor injuries to her arms and neck.

“When they went back out to their car to leave, that’s when the suspect opened up one of the car doors and started to unbuckle a 10-month-old baby girl and started to take her out of the car seat,” Cpl. Michele Pihera told WSB.

When police arrived at the scene, the mom and witnesses said the baby’s would-be abductor ran towards a nearby hotel and, after patrolling the area, they caught up with Reynolds at the Horizon Inn Suites. Reynolds is charged with kidnapping and cruelty to children and was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail.

Pihera told WSB the motive for the baby’s attempted abduction remains unclear, and the suspect claims he doesn’t remember the incident.

“He essentially told us he had no recollection of the incident, so he could not provide any further information as to why he specifically targeted this family and more specifically this young child.”

Speaking to reporters, the unidentified mom said she hopes her experience will encourage other mothers to be ready to protect their children when they least expect it. The police and media have not released the name of the mother or her child because she is reportedly terrified Reynolds will come after her child again.

[Image via Opposing Views]