The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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July 5, 2007

2 pre-teen neighbor girls allegedly demand a ransom of $200,000

By Cass Rains Staff Writer

A 1-year-old Enid boy was safe at home Thursday after allegedly being kidnapped earlier in the day by two pre-teen neighbors who demanded $200,000 in ransom.

Sheila Wells said her son, Brandon, was doing fine, despite the ordeal.

“He’s had a long day,” she said.

Enid police ar-rested two girls, sisters ages 12 and 10, who are ac-cused of breaking into Wells’ home, taking Brandon and leaving a note demanding a $200,000 ransom.

The girls told their mother they had “found the baby on the corner” when she no-ticed them with the infant, according to an Enid Police Department press release.

Their mother recognized the boy as the child of one of her neighbors.

Police received a call about 6:13 a.m. concerning the kidnapping in the 2200 block of D Court. Wells told police the 12-year-old girl came to her house and told her her sister had kidnapped Wells’ son.

Wells said she did not realize her son had been kidnapped until she was told by the girl.

The two girls live about a block from Wells’ home. They had snuck out of their house and broke into Wells’ home, according to police.

Once inside, they took the boy, who was sleeping in his crib, as well as $20, a stroller, diapers and wipes, police allege. They left a ransom note telling the mother, “If you want to see your son again then you won’t call police and report him missing and you will leave $200,000 on the sofa tonight and we will return your son back safe.” The note was signed “the kidnappers.”

Wells said she knew the girls, and the younger one had spent some time at her home. Wells said she went to the girls’ home and took her son back, along the items taken from her home.

“Her mom said she knew there was something ‘fishy’ about it,” Wells said. The girl was holding her child in her lap when she went to get her baby.

“She told me she wanted to be his new mommy,” Wells said. “She denied everything. When I walked in the door she was trying to make excuses to her mom.”

Wells said she had banned the 10-year-old girl from her home a few weeks ago.

Detectives interviewed the girls and placed them under arrest on suspicion of kidnapping, extortion and first-degree burglary. They were taken to Community Intervention Center.

Neither girl would give detectives any reason why they committed the crimes, according to police.

The girls appeared in Garfield County District Court about 4:30 p.m. Thursday for a hearing. Almost an hour later, they were led from the courthouse by police.

“I know they’re so young, but they need to learn from their mistakes,” Wells said.

She said she had not talked with the parents of the girls since their arrest.

“I couldn’t believe a 10-year-old girl would come into my house and take my son for I don’t know what reason,” Wells said.

She said one of the girls entered her home through a side door. Locks were being changed at the home while she was being interviewed Thursday evening.

“It’s still not going to help me sleep at night,” she said. “It makes me want to move.”

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