Suspect accused of taking baby from Kentwood Church

Suspected kidnapper
disguised baby
Child was stolen from Kentwood
church's nursery
Updated: Monday, 22 Jun 2009, 12:32 AM EDT
Published : Sunday, 21 Jun 2009, 8:10 PM EDT

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - A 12-month-old girl was kidnapped from the Kentwood Community Church nursery on Sunday. But after a brief investigation, she was found unharmed.

But most alarming to the child's parents is one thing: The suspected kidnapper disguised the child's appearance, her father told 24 Hour News 8, changing her clothes and hairstyle.

Tabitha Reid, 19, will be arraigned Monday, and charged with felony kidnapping. She is being held at the Kent County Correctional Facility.

Savannah Nolf, who turns 1 this month, was discovered missing at around noon when her mother, Jesse, attempted to pick her up from the nursery. Jesse Nolf called the Kent County Sheriff's Department at 12:14 p.m. to report the incident.

Witnesses provided to the police a description of the suspect, who was seen holding the child at the nursery. The description was shared with area police departments, and one deputy recalled seeing a woman earlier in the day walking on 68th Street who matched the description.

The deputy, along with some other officers, returned to the area with a canine unit to search.

In the meantime, church officials reviewed the surveillance system and confirmed it was a volunteer who was seen last with Savannah.

Officials provided the woman's name and address to authorities, who showed up at the house and found the child.

She was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure and Reid, of Grand Rapids, was taken into custody.

Reid was claiming Savannah belonged to her, according to Tom Nolf, Savannah's father.

"I had never seen (Reid) before in my life," he said. "I was shocked, (the whole situation) was rather surreal."

At first, he thought it was some kind of mix-up, he said.

After realizing Savannah was gone, it was probably about two hours before she was located.

24 Hour News 8 learned that before Reid went to Kentwood Community Church on Sunday, she showed up at another nursery - the one affiliated with Cutlerville East Christian Reformed Church, on 68th Street. Reid was alone inside the nursery, identifying herself with an alias name when a mother arrived to drop off her child.

The mother, who did not want to be identified, said she knew something wasn't right; the church has a small community and she had never seen Reid before.

Kentwood Community Church, 1200 60 St. SE., in Gaines Township, has about 2,600 attendees on the weekends.

Reid's mother and grandmother refused to comment.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Tabitha
• Reid
• Kidnap
• Baby
• Church
• Kentwood
• WOOD
• WOODTV
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[nazareth53]

You know whats funny Im also thomas Nolf Im the dads cousion (sorry i cant spell)

[ItsBrittReedsucka]

wow...I was in choir with her...just sad....sad ...lame.

[Tiffanyjoy854]

seriously what a stupid bitch... she was a stupid bitch throughout school... once a stupid bitch always a stupid bitch. i think she needs her face pounded in